WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) baseball team opened the 2020 season with an 8-7 non-conference victory over the Rollins College Tars on Friday night in Alfond Stadium at Harper-Shepherd Field.
 
SHC broke out on top in the 3^rd inning with an RBI-single by first baseman Grayson Williams plated left fielder Deon Laflore from second base. The Tars answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame off a run-scoring double to right was followed by a single to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
 
The Badgers exploded for four runs in the 4^th inning when second baseman Antonio Felix and right fielder Joe Stevens connected for back-to-back run-scoring singles followed by a two-run single by centerfielder Joseph Guidry.
 
Rollins shaved two runs off the Badger lead with a solo home run in the 4^th and a sacrifice fly in the 5^th inning. The tying run crossed the plate in the 9^th inning with an RBI-single by 1^st baseman Jack Gonzalez.
 
Senior shortstop Daniel Rodriguez led off the 10^th inning with a double and was subsequently bunted to 3^rd base by designated hitter Grant Akridge. An intentional walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with Badgers with one out, but two strikeouts would end the threat.
 
Later in the 11^th, Guidry and Leflore led off with singles up the middle to put runners at the corners with no outs. Third baseman Mason Bonnaffons doubled down the left field line with the bases loaded and two outs to stake SHC to a 7-5 lead. An infield throwing error off a sharply hit ball by catcher Daniel Seres would bring in another insurance run for the Badgers.
 
In the bottom of the 11^th inning, the Tars would load the bases with one out and score runs off a fielder's choice and a wild pitch, but a routine grounder to 2^nd ended the contest and sealed the SHC win.
 
Badger starter junior Conner Ingram of Hattiesburg, Miss., made his SHC debut by allowing four hits and one walk with six strikeouts in three innings of work. Michael Romano and Chance Shell both went three innings for the Badgers with Romano allowing five hits, a walk and two strike outs while Shell allowed three hits, a walk and one strike out. Tucker Powell (1-0) picked up the win in late relief with two innings work, two hits, a walk and four strikeouts. Williams, Guidry and Stevens each had a pair of hits for SHC. As a team, the Badgers collected 10 hits, but struck out 19 times.
 
Tate Stone-Frisina of Rollins gave up five hits and allowed a walk and six strikeouts in four innings while Kyle Kramer (0-1) took the loss in two innings of relief with four hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Gonzalez finished the day 4-for-6 with two RBI.
 
The Badgers (1-0) and the Tars (0-1) will face off again on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.