WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 6, 2023) - Rollins orchestrated an epic comeback on Thursday in the series opener against Eckerd, eventually winning 9-8 over the Tritons. The Tars are now 23-9 on the year, with a 13-3 record in the SSC.
Eckerd could not have asked for a better start to the game as their first five hitters reached base on four singles and a walk. After a double play, they added two more hits, and ended up with four runs in the inning to take the early advantage. The Tars got one back in the bottom half when
Joey Rubin led off with a triple, and was brought in on a RBI groundout from
Adams Torres.
A double and a home run added a pair of runs in the third inning to Eckerd's total, making it a 6-1 ballgame.
The Tars took a chunk out of the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out,
Jeslyn Whitehead was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. After
Cameron Meehan walked, both runners stole to put two in scoring position. A second wild pitch in the inning scored Whitehead and moved Meehan to third.
Jimmy Thies then grounded out to short, but was able to plate Meehan.
Kyle Bullock then rounded out the scoring with a single to left that brought in pinch-runner
Jack Herring to make the score 6-4.
The two teams traded solo home runs in the fifth inning as Jake Andriole went deep for the Tritons and Torres launched one over the left-center wall for the Tars to make it 7-5.
Eckerd threatened again in the sixth when their first two hitters reached on a bloop single to right and a bunt base hit.
Jaxon Mills was called on out of the pen, and induced a 4-3 double play and another groundout to escape unscathed.
Rollins would make them regret it. Meehan led off with a walk, followed by Herring being hit by a pitch. Thies then lasered a single into left field to score Meehan. Two batters later,
Parker Smith annihilated a pitch into the center field batter's eye for a three-run homer, putting the Tars ahead 9-7.
Tate Stone-Frisina was called on in the eighth inning to hold on to the lead. He sat down all three batters he faced in the eighth, but ran into a spot of trouble in the ninth when he allowed a solo home run. He was able to buckle down and retire the next three hitters to secure his third save of the year.
The Tars were outhit in the game 15-7, but managed to turn a whopping five double plays to keep the Tritons at bay for the most part. Rubin had two hits and Smith had three RBI to lead the offense. Mills earned his first win of the year in relief, firing two solid shutout innings.
Games two and three of the series will be played as a doubleheader on Friday, April 7 with first pitch coming at noon from Alfond Stadium.
