Late Home Run Spoils Finale in Colorado

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (April 16, 2023) - Rollins and Colorado Mesa put the cherry on top of a wildly entertaining series with a thrilling Sunday rubber match. A late rally from the Mavericks put them over top of the Tars, winning 10-9. Rollins now stands at 26-11 on the year, while Colorado Mesa improves to 29-9.

Rollins jumped on the board early in the first when a wild pitch and throwing error allowed Jeslyn Whitehead to score from second base. Then, in the second, the Tars added three more runs to their total. The inning started walk, single, walk to load the bases. A balk then plated Parker Smith and moved the other two runners up. A groundout to first from Joey Rubin was enough to score Spencer Sarringar, followed by an RBI single from Adams Torres that brought in Drew Howard to make it 4-0. 

Mesa would split the lead in half with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second. 

For the third straight inning, Rollins found their way on to the scoreboard with a two-out RBI double from Rubin that scored Aidan Healy. The Tars added another run in the fourth when a sac fly from Cameron Meehan plated Whitehead to make it 6-2. Meanwhile, Kieran Casey was dialed in on the mound, keeping the dangerous Maverick offense at bay. When Adams Torres led off the sixth inning with a home run, it seemed that the Tars had the game locked up. 

Unfortunately, the bottom of the sixth was a big one for Mesa. A throwing error put a man on to lead things off, followed by three straight walks from reliever Steven Swift. Jaxon Mills was called on out of the bullpen, allowing a run on a sac fly and a single. Next up was Ryan Murphy, making his first appearance since March 3rd. A run scored on another sac fly, but that was followed by a wild pitch, a double, and a single, giving the Mavericks six runs in the inning and a 8-7 lead. 

Rollins got a man to third base in the seventh, but he was left stranded. Austin Long pitched a scoreless bottom seven to keep Rollins in the game. 

In the eighth, Whitehead led off with a single. He would move to third on a double from Ryan Coleman putting two men in scoring position with zero outs. Meehan came through, plating both runs with a single through the left side, putting Rollins up 9-8.

Things got very interesting as the inning continued. Kyle Bullock sacrificed Meehan to second. Parker Smith was then hit by a pitch to put two men on. The next batter was Sarringar, who chopped a ball to third base. It looked like a potential double play, but the umpires ruled that the fielder did not touch the bag, leaving Rollins with runners on second and third with two outs. With Drew Howard at the plate and a 2-1 count, Meehan broke for home. The incoming pitch was taken, and the catcher was able to dive forward and tag Meehan out at home to end the inning. 

The Mavericks would make Rollins pay in the bottom half. With one out and a man on first, Rob Sharrar smacked a no-doubt home run over the right field fence to give Mesa a 10-9 lead. In the top of the ninth, Torres hit a ball to the warning track in center, but was a few feet short of tying the game, giving the series to the home team Colorado Mesa. 

Rollins collected 14 hits in the game, with four players recording multiple knocks. Whitehead had three hits and three runs, while Coleman had three hits with two doubles and a walk. Meehan had three RBI in the game, and ended with 8 RBI for the series.

Casey allowed just two hits, two walks and two runs in five innings of work. He also struck out six batters. 

This was the first series loss for Rollins since February 10-12.

It's back to SSC action for Rollins next weekend as they host the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish on Friday and Saturday, April 21-22.