LAKELAND, Fla. (April 9, 2024) - A back-and-forth affair ended with a Rollins victory on Tuesday as the Tars outlasted the Florida Southern Mocs (12-21, 6-9 SSC). The victory moves Rollins to 19-14, 10-8 SSC on the season.
Rollins got on the board in their first at bat.
Damaurys Rodriguez walked, stole second, and came around to score on a
Chris Sparber single to left. The Mocs were quick to respond, striking for a run on a single as well in the bottom of the inning.
The third inning saw Sparber deliver another big hit.
Mason Wilson looked to bounce into a double play, but an errant throw not only put him on base, it moved him to second on the error. Wilson then trotted to third on a wild pitch, and came around when Sparber ripped a ball back up the middle to make it 2-1.
Sparber was at it again in the fifth. This time,
Jose Perez singled and moved to second on a walk to Wilson. This brought up Sparber, who for the third time in the game, sprayed a ball to left to drive in a run.
Florida Southern got the run back on a sac fly in their next at bat, and then struck for more in the sixth. A double and two walks loaded the bases. A costly error at short allowed a run to score tying the game, and then a single to left brought in the go-ahead run. On the play, Southern tried to score a second base runner, but Sparber delivered a strike from left field, nailing the runner at home as Rodriguez applied the tag.
With one out in the eighth,
Jack Herring singled, and then moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt.
Rob Buckley stepped up and delivered a single, scoring Herring to tie the game. Three batters later, a
Stephen Deans base knock plated Buckley. That was followed immediately by a Perez single to right field which brought in
Angelo Ramirez, making the score 6-4.
An error from the Tars allowed one run to come across in the eighth, making it 6-5. However,
Nate Thomas was able to work around the miscue and strand three runners on base to end the threat. Thomas then delivered a 1-2-3 ninth to save the game.
Seven Rollins pitchers took the mound in this one.
Jacob Burr came away with the win after tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball. The save for Thomas was his second of the year. Sparber was the top performer on offense with three hits and three RBI. HE now leads the team in both categories.
The Tars will be back in action this weekend at Eckerd. First pitch of the series is scheduled for 5:00 pm on Friday night from St. Petersburg .
