WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 3, 2024) – The 15th-ranked Rollins baseball team bounced back with a pair of victories on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against No. 24 Montevallo by scores of 6-4 and 12-3. The Tars are now 2-1 on the season, while the Falcons fall to 0-3.
Game 1 – No. 15 Rollins 6, No. 24 Montevallo 4
Chris Sparber went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs while
Mason Wilson was 2-for-4 with a run scored and
Stephen Deans was 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
Nick Berger started for Rollins, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings of work, walking three and striking out four.
Nate Thomas (1-0) got the win, tossing three innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit, walking one and striking out a pair.
Ryan Taylor notched his first save with a scoreless ninth, allowing just one walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Second Inning
- The Falcons got on the board first with a run in the top of the second, but Rollins quickly answered in the home half.
- Wilson opened the inning with a single up the middle and Jimmy Thies then reached on an error, pushing Wilson to second.
- Two batters later, Deans doubled home Wilson to tie the game.
- Sparber then stepped up and blasted a three-run home run, putting the Tars up, 4-1.
Fourth Inning
- Montevallo scratched across its second run in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 4-2.
Eighth Inning
- The Falcons used a walk, a single, and a costly error to plate two runs in the eighth, tying things up at 4-4.
- Nathan Tinder drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth, and two batters later, Sparber delivered his second home run of the day, a two-run shot to left that put Rollins back in front, 6-4.
Ninth Inning
- Montevallo got a leadoff walk in the ninth, but a double play followed by a line out took care of things as Taylor slammed the door to earn his first save.
Game 2 – No. 15 Rollins 12, No. 24 Montevallo 3
Wilson went 2-for-3 in game two, including a home run, a walk, two runs scored, and three RBIs, while Sparber was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.
Oscar Murray finished 1-for-2 with a walk, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs, and
Damaurys Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Ryan Furey (1-0) got the victory, allowing just one run on two hits in six innings, walking two and striking out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Inning
- The Tars wasted no time jumping out in front, beginning the game with back-to-back hit-by-pitches followed by an RBI single off the bat of Jeslyn Whitehead.
- Wilson then launched a three-run home run to make it 4-0 Tars.
- Two batters later, Sparber hit his third home run of the doubleheader, a solo shot to lift the lead to 5-0.
Third Inning
- Montevallo got on the board with a solo home run in the third, cutting the lead to 5-1.
Fourth Inning
- Thies led off the fourth with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Angelo Ramirez.
- Three batters later, Rodriguez singled to score him, giving Rollins a 6-1 advantage.
Fifth Inning
- Wilson opened the fifth with a base hit and Jack Herring followed suit with a single as well.
- Sparber then singled, scoring Wilson to make it 7-1.
- After a double play, Ramirez singled to right to score Herring, increasing the lead to 8-1.
- After a walk to Drew Howard, Murray lifted a three-run home run over the fence to make it a double-digit lead at 11-1.
Eighth Inning
- The Falcons used three singles to tally a run in the eighth, while was quickly answered by a Tinder RBI double, sending the game to the ninth with the Tars up 12-2.
Ninth Inning
- Montevallo scored once in the ninth to account for the 12-3 final score.
UP NEXT:
The Tars will host Colorado Mesa in the first of a three-game series on Thursday, February 8, with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
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