DAYTONA, Fla. (May 12, 2023) - Embry-Riddle claimed the series win on Friday, using eleven innings to defeat the #8 Rollins Tars by a score of 6-5. Rollins now stands at 34-15 on the season with a 22-7 record in SSC play.
The Eagles jumped on top in the bottom of the second inning, taking advantage of two walks before an RBI single through the right side brought in the first run of the game. The Embry-Riddle lead then ballooned to 4-0 in the fourth inning, with the Eagles scoring three runs on a base hit and a two-run double.
Rollins did not get on base until the top of the fifth when
Cameron Meehan reached on a bunt single. He was ultimately stranded, but he at least woke up the offense.
Parker Smith put the Tars on the board when he led the sixth inning off with a solo home run to left. The roundtripper was his 20th of the year, tying John Pellechia (1987) for the second-most home runs in a season for a Tars ballplayer.
The Tars added a couple more in the seventh. Meehan walked,
Jack Herring singled, and
Jimmy Thies was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Smith then stepped up once more, delivering a a single to left that brought home Meehan and Herring. A double play and a strikeout subverted any further damage, keeping it 4-3 Eagles.
Embry-Riddle added an insurance run in the eighth on an infield single to make the score 5-3. Following the script of the season, Rollins would not go down without a fight. Thies and Smith each singled to start the ninth. A passed ball would move the runners up, followed by a pinch-hit groundout from
Mason Wilson that scored Thies.
Kency Mocombe, who pinch-ran for Smith, scored the tying run on a wild pitch shortly after.
Rollins had a good chance to score in the tenth when
Ryan Coleman doubled with one out. He moved up to third on a flyball, but was stranded there after a strikeout. Embry-Riddle also had a prime opportunity in the bottom half, putting a man on third with one out. A groundball to
Jeslyn Whitehead led to a play at the plate, where the Eagles runner was tagged out.
In the eleventh, Thies made it to second base with two outs, but did not come in. Embry-Riddle was able to put the game away when their leadoff man reached on an error, moved to third on a bunt, and scored when the ball was dropped at home plate on a bnag-bang play.
Smith led the way with three hits and three RBI. Coleman had two doubles, and Meehan reached base three times.
Ryan Murphy threw two great innings out of the bullpen, striking out four and not allowing a baserunner.
Tate Stone-Frisina was charged with the loss, his first of the season, dropping him to 6-1.
The series finale is slated to wrap on Saturday with a noon first pitch.
