PENSACOLA, Fla. (February 8, 2025) - The Tars got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon, splitting a double header with West Florida to salvage the series in dominant fashion. After giving way to the Argonauts late in game one, the Tars bats came alive to build momentum heading into next week's action.
Game One
West Florida jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in game one, but it was late inning clutch hitting that helped the Argonauts prevail. Connor Hensley got the nod on the mound for the Tars in the first game from Pensacola, but soon gave way to reliever AJ Seymour. The sophomore righty kept the Tars in the game, delivering five innings of masterful work. Seymour conceded just one unearned run on three hits and one walk, exiting after the sixth. At that point, the only offense the Tars had to show on the scoreboard was a Jeslyn Whitehead RBI double that drove home Joey Rubin to begin the fourth. Whitehead was left stranded on second, and the script would later be followed in the sixth when the graduate student singled to start the inning, stole second base, but did not advance any further.
Whitehead accounted for three of the Tars six hits in game one and was pivotal in the eighth inning comeback, when the Tars tied the score at three. After a Michael Furry walk and a Rubin single, Whitehead kept the rally going, singling to right center to load the bases with no outs. After an RBI groundout by Dalton Pyzer and a sac fly by Mason Wilson, the Tars found themselves in a 3-3 ballgame.
Unfortunately, the stalemate did not last long. The Argonauts answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the eighth to go ahead 5-3. A quick 1-2-3 frame for the Tars gave West Florida the game one victory.
Game Two
After three straight games of little offensive production, the Tars bats exploded in game two of the doubleheader. Combining for just five runs across the previous three games, Rollins ended the early-season slump with an eight spot in the first inning and never looked back.
Rubin's hot bat got the Tars started with a one out single up the middle, opening the flood gates on an outstanding first inning. Rubin's base knock was part of a three-hit performance in game two, following up his muti-hit game in Saturday's game one loss. After Rubin, the next seven Rollins batters that came up to the dish reached base, giving the Tars a 5-0 advantage. After the second out of the inning was recorded, Rollins added three more runs with RBI singles by Rubin and Whitehead. When it was all said and done, the Tars grabbed an 8-0 lead on eight hits, all of them singles.
The Tars were not satisfied. After a quick 1-2-3 inning of work by Nick Berger on the mound, Rollins added six more runs on five hits in the second frame. Rubin again did damage, picking up two of the six RBI with a single to left center, and Dalton Pyzer brought him around to score with a two-out RBI of his own. Through two innings, every man dawning a Tars uniform had come around to score at some point in the game. Equally as impressive, the 14-run barrage was done with just one extra base hit off the bat of Corey Zientek.
In the top of the fourth, Furry homered to put the Tars ahead 16-0. It was Furry's second consecutive day with a dinger and the first RBI of the day that came by way of an extra base hit.
The loud bats were complimented by another brilliant performance by Rollins starter Nick Berger. The run support was more than plenty for the senior right-hander who left after five no-hit innings on the bump. It was the second consecutive start by Berger going five innings and picking up the win. Berger's final line was 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, with five strikeouts and one walk.
West Florida finally got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth with two runs and added three more in the seventh off the bat of Argonaut senior Cade Easterbrook making the final of 16-5. Still, the double-digit advantage after seven was enough to give Rollins the win after both coaches decided to end the game due to a long ride home for the Tars.
The Tars look to build on the momentum created off the game two offensive onslaught next week as Assumption University comes to town for a three-game set. Friday's visit by the Greyhounds to begin the series is part of a seven-game homestand for the Tars. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00pm from Alfond Stadium on Friday. Follow for updates and free live streams for all home games right here on RollinsSports.com.
