March 9, 2007

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

Port Charlotte, Fla. - Phil Butch collected four hits and four RBIs and M.J. Parsons added three hits, including two doubles, to lead The Rock to a doubleheader split vs. St. Cloud State (Minn.) on the opening day of SRU's annual spring-break trip to the Sunshine State.

Butch's second single in Game 1 accounted for the winning run in The Rock's 2-1, nine-inning victory. He added a bunt single, a two-run triple and a sacrifice fly in Game 2, which SRU dropped by a 7-6 score.

Parsons had all three of his hits in Game 2. His third hit and second double of the game plated The Rock's final run to cut St. Cloud's lead to its final one-run margin.

The Rock trailed by a 7-4 score heading into the bottom of the seventh and final inning, then made things interesting before coming up one run short.

Billy Herman started The Rock's final-inning rally with a one-out double before Dan Hudeck and Parsons smacked back-to-back RBI doubles to cut the margin to 7-6 and put the potential tying run on second base with two outs.

The comeback ended, though, when Scott Bender struck out swinging for the final out of the game.

Butch was one of three Rock players who had two hits in Game 1; Scott Hugney and Matt Adams also collected a pair of hits.

An RBI single by Billy Messer in the second inning plated SRU's first run of the game, while Herman's double was SRU's only extra-base hit.

The Rock collected 10 hits in Game 1 and added 12 more in Game 2. SRU squandered most of its scoring opportunities in Game 1, though, as it stranded nine runners on base -- six of which were left in scoring possition.

Sean Holliday, the third of four pitchers used by Rock head coach Jeff Messer, picked up the Game 1 win. Vince Lloyd struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth inning to pick up his second save of the season.

Derek Blyzwick pitched the first six innings, allowed one unearned run on three hits and struck out six. Craig Misiewicz pitched the next 1 2/3 innings and allowed one hit, struck one one and walked two before Holliday hurled one-third of an inning.

Kyle Smith joined Parsons and Butch as Rock players who had a multiple-hit in Game 2, one of his hits a fourth-inning double.

Mark Tanner was The Rock's Game 2 starter and allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits, struck out one and walked four. Tom Turnbull then allowed one hit and walked one in one-third of an inning before Holliday returned to the mound.

Holliday allowed one earned run on one hit, struck out one and walked one in his only inning of work in Game 2, but was tagged with the loss.

Mike DeCola pitched the final two innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, struck out one and walked three.

The Rock will be back in action at 9 a.m. Saturday, when it will take on Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) at Terry Park in Fort Myers.