WINTER PARK, Fla. - A four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as Rollins College extended its winning streak to ten and remained unbeaten at home with a 7-4 win over Bentley in non-conference baseball Sunday afternoon at Alfond Stadium.
After a throwing error and a double down the left-field line by first baseman Stefano Foggi (Evanston, Ill.) set the table, center fielder Corey Whiting (Winter Park, Fla.) cleared the bases with a triple to center, extending a 2-1 Tars lead to 4-1. Whiting trotted home on a single by Gary Martoccio (Lutz, Fla.), and Martoccio later scored the fourth run of the frame on a sacrifice fly.
Right fielder Phil Hendricks (Pittsfield, Maine) made it a 7-1 game in the fifth when he slugged his third home run of the season over the right field fence.
Sophomore catcher Mike DeCoste (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford HS) had two of Bentley's eight hits, including an RBI single in the first to stake the Falcons to an early 1-0 lead.
Bentley, which had picked up two runs in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch, closed out the scoring in the eighth on an RBI single by sophomore Garrett Stenhouse (Warwick, R.I./ Pilgrim HS).
Third baseman Gene Howard (Nahant, Mass.) had three hits for 10-2 Rollins, and shortstop Ryan Luker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) had two hits and two RBI. Lefty Matt White (Bellingham, Mass.) improved to 3-0 on the season after allowing three runs and six hits over the first six innings.
Bentley, which concluded its trip to the Sunshine State 0-7, is scheduled to play four games on Long Island next weekend, beginning Friday in Yaphank, N.Y. against Mercy College.
