WINTER PARK, Fla. (May 1, 2026) – Rollins opened its series against Wayne State with an 11-5 victory on Friday, improving to 31-12 on the season while the Warriors fell to 34-11.

Wayne State struck first, using a walk, a stolen base, and a base hit to plate the game's opening run. Rollins responded with a hit from Collin Hughes in the bottom half but was unable to capitalize, leaving the one-run deficit intact.

After a scoreless second and a quick top of the third, the Tars got to work in the bottom half. Mauri Bejarano led off with a single up the middle and swiped second in the next at-bat. Hughes delivered again, lacing a double down the left field line to bring Bejarano home and even the score at one.

Rollins carried that momentum into the fourth. Matthew Mateo stepped in during the second at-bat of the inning and launched a solo shot over the right field wall to give the Tars their first lead of the day. Jimmy Theis followed with a perfectly placed bunt single, beating the throw, but was left stranded as Rollins held a one-run advantage.

The Warriors answered in the fifth, drawing a walk before a two-run home run flipped the score back in their favor. Rollins turned to Robert Ogg out of the bullpen, who settled things down and kept the deficit at one.

The back-and-forth continued in the sixth. Jayden Brown worked a full-count walk and stole second, continuing the Tars' aggressive approach on the basepaths. He moved to third on a flyout from O'Sullivan before Mateo delivered once again, doubling down the right field line to tie the game at three.

Wayne State threatened in the next frame, loading the bases with no outs and pushing across a run to reclaim the lead. JR Struk and the Rollins defense limited the damage, however, keeping the game within reach.

Rollins broke it open in the seventh. Michael Furry was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Brown followed with another walk. O'Sullivan stepped up and crushed a no-doubt home run to right, putting the Tars back on top. Theis later drew a walk and came around to score after an error off the bat of Bejarano, extending the lead to four.

The Warriors trimmed the deficit in the eighth with a run manufactured through small ball, but Rollins quickly responded with insurance. Furry drew another walk, and Brown singled to put runners on. O'Sullivan drove in a run with a double off the wall, and Mateo reached on an error that brought in another. A passed ball allowed one more to score, pushing the lead to 11-5.

Coby Vallee shut the door in the ninth with a scoreless inning to secure the win, while Ogg earned the victory in relief.

Rollins returns to Alfond Stadium tomorrow to continue the series with a doubleheader against the Warriors, scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.