FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 2, 2024) - After falling in a quick 4-0 hole, the Rollins Tars pieced together a comeback and eventual win against Nova Southeastern on Saturday. The win evens the Tars' record at 7-7 on the year, with a 2-3 mark in SSC play. Nova Southeastern drops to 8-7 on the year.
The Sharks got on the board in the first with a double, groundout and sac fly to go up 1-0. In the second, they threatened again, but the Tars were able to throw out two runners at home. Unfortunately, Nova eventually made it on the board with two singles that drove in three runs to make it a 4-0 game.
Rollins was quick to respond in the third.
Matthew Farner doubled to lead off, and moved to third on a balk. He would then com in to score on a wild pitch.
Jose Perez then knocked in
Drew Howard with a base hit up the middle to make it 4-2.
The Sharks were at it again in the third, but this time starter
Nick Berger was able to strand runners on second and third to keep them off the board. Rollins took advantage with a big fifth inning. An error and a single put men on the corners with one out. Leadoff man
Oscar Murray then delivered a single to score Howard. A second error in the inning bourght in Perez to knot the score at four. That was followed by an RBI double from
Mason Wilson and a
Nathan Tinder sac fly to run the score to 6-4.
Berger found new confidence with the lead, and struck out the side in the fifth. He also set the Sharks down in order in the sixth to wrap up his day.
Nova Southeastern scored on a groundout in the seventh to pull within one.
Paul Janeczko was called in out of the bullpen, and forced a flyout to center. The Sharks tried to tage from third and score on the play, but a missile throw from
Nathan Tinder had him out at the plate.
After Nova drew a walk to lead off the ninth,
Ryan Murphy took the mound for the Tars. A second walk put two on, and Nova chose to bunt them over, wasting one of their final three outs. Murphy dug in and shut the door on the Sharks by striking out the final two hitters of the game to secure the save in the 6-5 win.
Perez had two hits, a run, and a RBI out of the nine hole, and Howard scored twice to lead the offense. Berger earned the win with six innings of four run ball with three strikeouts.
The two teams will match up for a third time on Sunday in the rubber match of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
