R.J. LaRocco
2
Rhodes RHODES 12-7
10
Winner Webster WEBSTER 8-5
Rhodes RHODES
12-7
2
Final
10
Webster WEBSTER
8-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rhodes RHODES 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 9 2
Webster WEBSTER 0 2 0 2 1 0 2 3 X 10 11 1

W: Hunt, Carter (2-1) L: R. Manti (1-2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Kyle Jones

WU’s LaRocco Records Five RBI’s In Dominant 10-2 Victory Over Rhodes

LAKELAND, Flor. - The Webster University baseball team played their fifth game in the Sunshine State with a rematch decision against Rhodes College on Thursday. WU's R.J.  LaRocco was a triple away from the cycle as he recorded four hits and drove in a season-high five rbi's that led to a 10-2 victory over the Lynx. With the victory, Webster improves to 8-5 overall on the season and 3-2 in Florida.

Webster was the home team in this neutral site game as Carter Hunt took the mound for his third start of the season. He recorded a scoreless first inning that included two strikeouts and a pick-off at first. 

In the top of the second, the Lynx struck first on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Cullen McBride led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Moments later, LaRocco got his day started with a two-run home run that put the Gorloks on top at 2-1. 

In the next two innings, Hunt recorded back-to-back scoreless innings while adding a strikeout. In the bottom of the fourth, Evan Evola got the inning started with a lead off walk and advanced to second on another hit-by-pitch drawn by McBride. With no outs, LaRocco reached base on an error by RC's catcher that allowed Evola to score that increased the lead to 3-1. Moments later, McBride came around to score on a fielder's choice that stretched the lead to 4-1.

In the top of the fifth, Hunt allowed back-to-back hits as a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third. Shortly later, Hunt picked off the runner on third for the second out of the inning. He got out of the inning with a fielder's choice from Charlie Pellicer to Ben Stedman at second for his third consecutive scoreless inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Gorloks added a single-run on an rbi double by Theodore that scored Pellicer for the 5-1 advantage. 

In the top of the sixth, Webster called upon McBride out of the bullpen. McBride struck out the first batter he faced and later added his second that led to a scoreless. In the top of the seventh, McBride worked out of a jam with consecutive flyouts for his second consecutive inning. In the bottom half, McBride did it with the bat and extended the lead to 6-1 with an rbi double to left that scored Theodore. Moments later, LaRocco ripped an rbi double to left that scored McBride that made the score 7-1.

In the top of the eighth, Webster called upon reliever Jack Wilson. Shortly later, the Lynx added a single-run on a groundout putout by Wilson at first that made the score 7-2. In the bottom half, Karl Peters got the inning started with a solo home run for the 8-2 lead. Theodore followed up with a double to right and later stole third. Moments later, Theodore scored on a wild pitch that made the score 9-2. Following a walk and a wild pitch that put Evola on second, LaRocco smashed a double to left that scored Evola which was his fifth rbi of the game. 

In the top of the ninth, Wilson recorded his first strikeout of the game as Stedman made two plays at second that put the game final. 

In addition to LaRocco, Theodore had a four-hit day that included one rbi. The other three hits of the game came from Peters, McBride, and Ryan Hartz.

On the mound, Hunt pitched five innings, struck out four, and was credited for the win. Relievers McBride and Wilson pitched two innings each and combined for three strikeouts.    

The Gorloks will continue spring break play tomorrow Friday, March 14 with a decision against Wheaton College of Massachusetts starting at 1:30PM eastern time in Auburndale, Florida. 
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