Centre battles 19th-ranked Emory University
The Centre College baseball team played 19th-ranked Emory University Wednesday, March 21 at Chappell Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The Colonels lost 10-5 after sticking with the Eagles for most of the game.
Centre brought in the first run in the opening inning when sophomore Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) flied out but got sophomore Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville, Ky.) home. The Eagles fought back in the bottom of the second and took the lead after scoring two runs. Centre was determined to keep the game close and pulled a run in to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth. Jones doubled and sent senior Eric Moore (Bowling Green, Ky.) home. Emory showed why it's nationally ranked when it scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to begin pulling away from the Colonels.
Centre continued to fight however, and scored in the top of the fifth to keep the Eagles in sight. Williams sent freshmen Kai Leathers (Franklin, Ky.) home when he singled. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when Emory posted three more runs to bring the score to 8-3. It added it's final two runs in the bottom on the eighth. In it's last chance at bat Centre tried to rally but fell short after only scoring two runs. Freshmen Steven Kull (Frankfort, Ky.) doubled to left field, sending Leathers home. Kull advanced to third and then home on wild pitches.
Senior Johnny Karnes (Labanon, Ohio) opened for the Colonels. He allowed five runs off eight hits. He was replaced by freshmen Aaron Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) in the fifth. Herbert allowed three runs off four hits and had one strikeout. Williams came in as relief to finish the game for Centre. He allowed two hits and two runs.
The Centre bats performed better this game as seven different players posted hits. Williams and Moore each posted multiple hits for the Colonels. Jones batted in two runs.
The Colonels drop to 6-9 and start conference play when they travel to Oglethorpe University for a four game match up Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25.
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