WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 18, 2025) – The Rollins Tars and St. Michael's Purple Knights took to the diamond once more for the second and final game of the set between the two clubs on Tuesday. After trading blows in the early innings, Rollins was able to pull away thanks to their hot bats, winning 12-4 to improve to 18-6 on the season.
The midweek duel meant another bullpen day for the Tars with
Edward Berry getting the start for Rollins. Saint Michael's jumped on the senior early, scoring a run in the top of the first after two quick outs. The Tars answered back in opposite fashion, beginning the game with two straight hits by
Michael Furry and
Joey Rubin, which tied the game.
Saint Michael's quickly grabbed the lead once more in the second, but the one run advantage did not last long. To begin the bottom half of the third, Furry struck while the iron was hot, homering to left field and tying the game at two apiece.
The score would remain knotted into the bottom the fifth thanks to scoreless innings of relief worked by
Evan Cornelius and
Nathan Tinder, each making their first appearance since March 7th.
It was only a matter of time before the Rollins bats came to life, and a one-out double by Rubin would help to do just that. The shortstops' extra base knock awoke the sleeping giant and sparked a four-run fifth inning – with the help of RBI courtesy of
Rob Buckley,
Chris Sparber, and
Stephen Deans.
The Tars added another run in the bottom of the sixth with one swing of the bat as Furry went yard for the second time in the game.
In the seventh, after a Saint Michael's run made the score 7-3, the Tars poured it on, largely with the help of the Purple Knights' pitching staff. Rollins worked four walks in the frame. Rubin made them pay, launching a two-run double to the gap. For Rubin, that is now three out of the last four games with multiple RBI. The redshirt junior racked up three doubles today for the first time in his career.
When it was all said and done, the Tars had pulled ahead 11-3. After a scoreless eighth manufactured by
Austin Biddle,
Ethan Beal stepped in to pitch hit, leading off the bottom half of the stanza for the Tars. Beal, who appeared yesterday as a pinch-runner, was ready for his chance at the plate. The sophomore worked his way out of an 0-2 hole and smoked the ball down the left field line for his first career home run. The dugout exploded in celebration as the homer made the score 12-3.
Speaking of firsts,
Connor Mulready got the ball for the ninth. Mulready, a true freshman, pitched his first career inning, settling in nicely with a double play. The Purple Knights tacked on one run, but the Tars grabbed a commanding win nonetheless, 12-4.
Furry and Rubin each recorded three hits. Furry scored three times and drove in three, while Rubin scored once and had four driven in. Tinder took the win on the mound for Rollins, tossing two innings of shutout ball with a strikeout.
Rollins will take the show on the road as they head down to Boca Raton this weekend to face the Lynn Fighting Knights. First pitch of the three-game conference bout will take place at 3:00pm on Friday afternoon.
