Upset Bid Spoiled by Lions

WINTER PARK, Fla. (April 2, 2024) - Rollins and Saint Leo faced off in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday. It was a thriller of a game that saw the Lions overtake the Tars, 3-2. With the loss, Rollins moves to 17-12 on the season, while #7 Saint Leo improves to 28-4.

Both teams put runners on in the first inning, but the Lions were stifled by Stephen Deans throwing out a baserunner, while the Tars were stopped by a double play in their half. 

In the top of the second, Callan Moss led off the inning with a triple, but Paul Janeczko was able to work out of the jam. A medium flyball to right was caught by Jack Herring, who then unleashed an absolute laser to home plate where Deans was able to tag out Moss for the double play. 

The top of the third saw Deans end the inning with his second caught stealing of the game. 

Jacob Burr took over for Janeczko in the fourth, and tossed a scoreless frame in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the bottom of the fifth, the scoreboard finally got some action when Matthew Farner launched a solo home run over the left field wall to put Rollins up 1-0. 

Saint Leo put two men on in the sixth, but Angelo Ramirez made a great grab in center to leave them stranded and preserve the lead. 

The Lions would finally get on the board in the seventh. With two outs and a man on second, Nick Yedman singled to left field and brought in Moss to tie the game. 

In the eighth, Saint Leo rallied for two runs after they loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Ryan Taylor. Mikey Scott doubled off the wall in center to bring in the pair and go up 3-1. 

Rollins showed life in their half when Jimmy Thies tripled with one out. The next batter was Ramirez, who singled to center, plating his teammate and cutting the lead in half. The Tars would have two men on later in the inning, but the Lions brought in their All-World closer Nick Jennings, who recorded two strikeouts to escape further damage. 

Mason Wilson singled to lead off the ninth for Rollins, but the next three at bats would equal outs, ending the game. 

The Tars outhit the Lions 10-7 in this one, led by three from Wilson. Janeczko was solid in his three innings, allowing just two hits and striking out one. Burr had two strikeouts in his 2.1 innings, and Nate Thomas also tossed two scoreless. 

Next up for Rollins is a massive home series against the #1 Tampa Spartans. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Friday, April 5 from Alfond Stadium.