WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 21, 2025) –The Tars were quiet for most of the day offensively, but
Chris Sparber was clutch when it mattered the most to help Rollins (8-3) secure a series opening win over Saint Leo on Friday afternoon. The come from behind victory made it six in a row for the streaking Tars, and gave them a 1-0 record to begin SSC play.
Tyler Toro got the nod on the bump and was fantastic, pitching into the seventh inning. Having made four starts on the season, Toro has allowed three runs or fewer in every appearance in his young Tars career. Today's outing was his season high for innings pitched with 6.2. He gave up three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four.
Two of the runs allowed by Toro came in the second inning when Saint Leo centerfielder Caleb Adams homered to left. Adams caused more trouble with an RBI single in the fourth to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Jimmy Thies quickly answered with an RBI single in the bottom half off the inning, but the Tars would strand the bases loaded to prevent further damage.
Missed opportunities was the theme all day for Rollins. Despite out hitting the Lions ten to six, the Tars left twelve runners on base, nine of which happened in the first six innings. It appeared that the failure to capitalize on their chances would spell demise for the Tars; that was until Sparber stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.
After
Blake Tipmore slammed the door on Saint Leo's threat in the top half, the tars found
Jeslyn Whitehead and
Mason Wilson on base with two outs. Sparber then blasted a three-run shot well over the left field fence to give the Tars a 4-3 lead. The two-out hit was exactly what Rollins needed to turn the tide after squandering so many chances. Don't look now, but Sparber is getting hot at the plate. The reigning SSC All-Conference performer now has multiple hits in three of the last four games.
Tipmore went on to get two more outs in the eighth before
Douglas Rojas came on to strand a Lion runner and end the eight. In the bottom half, Rollins once again left some ducks on the pond, stranding the bases loaded. Still, four free bases awarded by the Lions pitching staff in the inning allowed for some insurance. After a
Mason Wilson RBI walk, the Tars took a 5-3 lead with them to the ninth.
After issuing a lead-off double, Rojas escaped any damage thanks to outstanding play behind him. With one out and a runner on third base, pinch hitting Braden Killen flew a ball to right. Squaring it up, right fielder
Corey Zientek caught the ball for the second out of the inning before gunning the runner at home to secure the win in dramatic fashion. The web gem wowed the crowd, erupted the dugout, and ignited some momentum heading into game two of the series tomorrow.
Blake Tipmore was credited with his first win on the mound while Rojas picked up his first save on the season.
Saturday's game will once again take place at Alfond Stadium, with first pitch is at 1pm. If you can't make it out, be sure to check out the free live stream, as well as baseball coverage all season long on RollinsSports.com.
