Baseball Rallies from Five Back to Down Tars

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. –After trailing 6-1 in the top of the fourth inning, the Barry baseball team collected four runs the bottom of the inning then eight in the bottom of the eighth to take a 13-6 victory over the Rollins Tars on Friday.

Three nights after totaling 16 runs on 17 hits against Rollins (28-14, 11-8), Barry (29-17, 11-8) tallies 13 runs on 14 hits.
The Tars were the first to strike in the top of the third frame scoring two runs. Rollins center fielder Taylor Ferguson launched a two-run shot to left field to give his Tars an early 2-0 lead. Barry answered in the bottom half of the inning when Julio Ramos singled up the middle with two outs and Nick Shaw drove him in on a double to left-center field to make it a 2-1 ball game.

In the fourth, Rollins took a commanding lead after Ferguson blasted his second home run of the day. Ferguson’s three-run jack made it a 6-1 game in favor of the Tars. Again, the resilient Buccaneers answered in the bottom of the inning posting four runs of their own.

Matt Petty led things off with a single, and then Chris Leon doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third with no outs. After Ryan Garcia fouled out, Joaquin Valdes stepped up to the plate. The first pitch Valdes saw he lifted over the left field fence to cut the Rollins lead down to two at 4-6.

Later in the fourth, Shaw took to the plate with two outs and Ramos standing on second. Shaw, once again, ripped a double to right center scoring Ramos to trim the lead down to one at 5-6.

After the fourth, both teams posted three compete inning of scoreless baseball, a streak that ended in the bottom of the eighth. With six outs until defeat, Barry amassed eight runs in the bottom of the eighth to solidify the conference win.

To start the scoring in the eighth, Ramos capitalized on two RBIs when he looped a single into right field scoring Vales and Leon and giving Barry their first lead of the game at 7-6. The scoring did not end there. Shaw belted double number three on the day and RBI number thee as well scoring Evan Ashley. Also, in the inning, Yas Gutierrez blasted a three-run home run on a 3-0 count to make it a 16-3 Buccaneer advantage.

In relief of Corey Witkowski, Brad McAllister (6-4) tossed 5.2 innings of brilliant baseball. Witkowski received the start but struggled, giving up 11 hits and six earned runs. After Rollins took a 6-2 lead in the fourth, McAllister completed the game and shut out the Tars. McAllister gave up six hits, walked one, struck out three, and surrendered no runs on 72 pitches.

Four Bucs collected multiple RBI games. Shaw, Gutierrez, and Valdez lead the team with three each and Ramos added two. Shaw went 3-5 and Ramos also punched three hits on four at bats.

The final home series for Barry continues tomorrow with a double header starting at noon. Tomorrow is also senior day for the team. The eight seniors will be recognized prior to game one. In honor of their support, the fathers of each senior will be on the field during batting practice on Saturday.

Coverage of the game on the Buccaneer Broadcasting Network starts at 11:50 a.m. and continues through game two of the double header.

Barry 13, Rollins 6
(04/23/10 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
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Rollins............. 002 400 000 - 6 17 1 (29-17, 11-8)
Barry............... 001 400 08X - 13 14 0 (28-14, 11-8)
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Pitchers: Rollins - Stephen Hiscock; Matt White(7); Marc Hewett(7); Cori Warren(8) and
Ben Hewett. Barry - Corey Witkowski; Brad McAllister(4) and Chris Leon.
Win-Brad McAllister(6-4) Loss-Marc Hewett(2-5) T-2:56 A-121
HR RCB - Taylor Ferguson 2 (9).
HR BUB - Yas Gutierrez (12); Joaquin Valdes (12).
Weather: mid 70s wind blowing from RF
White faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Game: BB0423