Centre loses two in Cross Divisional Playoffs

The Centre College baseball team played Austin College in the SCAC Cross Divisional Playoffs this past weekend. The Colonels traveled to Millington, Tennessee to play a best out of three series. After losing the fist match on Friday, April 20, they tied the series, winning on Saturday, April 21. The deciding game was played on Sunday, April 22, in which the Colonels lost.

The first game of the series was kept close for most of the innings. The Austin Kangaroos took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and scored again in the bottom of the third. The Colonels tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth. Senior Andy Placido (Nicholasville, Ky.) drove in senior Kyle Rakes (Ashland, Ky.) and allowed junior Kevin McGee (Louisville, Ky.) to get home after an Austin fielding mistake. The Kangaroos took the lead back in the bottom of the inning when they scored three runs. After keeping Centre scoreless in the top of the seventh, Austin secured the lead by hitting a grand slam and bringing in seven runs to make the final score 12-2.

Junior John Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) started on the mound. He allowed nine runs off 13 hits and had six strikeouts until being replaced by sophomore Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the last inning. Williams allowed three runs off two hits to finish the game.

Five Centre batters recorded hits throughout the game. Seniors Eric Moore (Bowling Green, Ky.) and Rakes lead the team with two hits apiece.

Centre performed much better the following day in the second game of the series. Freshmen Kai Leathers (Franklin, Ky.) started the scoring for the Colonels in the bottom of the second when he drove two runs in. McGee brought in the third run when junior Ben Jeffers (New Albany, Ohio) was walked, forcing McGee home. The Colonels increased their lead in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings by bringing in one run in each. Rakes batted in Moore in the fifth while Williams drove in Leathers in the sixth. Sitting on a 5-0 lead going into the seventh Centre gave up a run. Austin batted in two runners to get on the scoreboard. Centre quickly retaliated by bringing in six runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the lead. Down by nine runs, Austin could only manage to bring in two more before the game ended in Centre's favor 11-4.

Placido started and earned the win for Centre. He pitched six innings allowing two runs off seven hits. He also had four strikeouts. Senior Johnny Karnes (Labanon, Ohio) relieved Placido for the final two innings. Karnes finished the game by allowing only two runs off three hits.

Centre's batting improved as nine players registered hits in the game. Leathers had multiple hits and drove in three runners. Sophomore Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) got his fourth home run of the season in the match.

The final game of the series had a disappointing start for the Colonels as the Kangaroos brought in four runs in the bottom of the first. Fighting to come back the rest of the game, the Colonels managed to bring in one run in the top of the fifth and one in the top of the seventh. McGee drove in sophomore Brandon Rosen (Ashland, Ky.) in the fifth and Placido brought home Rosen again in the seventh. Austin continued to score while keeping Centre quiet offensively to make the final score 12-2.

Senior Lance Sizmore (Batavia, Ohio) pitched for the Colonels. He allowed seven runs off six hits. He was replaced by Karnes in the fourth. Karnes allowed three runs off one hit. Freshmen Aaron Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) came in to pitch the final inning. Herbert allowed two runs off one hit.

While eight Centre batters had hits throughout the game, most of the did not have to chance to get home. Moore was the only Center batter to have more than one hit in the game.

The Colonels play local rival Transylvania University home at Wright Field in Danville, Ky. Wednesday, April 25 starting at 7 pm.