Centre sweeps Oglethorpe University in doubleheader

The Centre baseball team matched up against Oglethorpe University Saturday, March 24 in a doubleheader conference match. After beating the Stormy Petrels the previous day, Centre came out confident and swept the doubleheader with two clean wins. Centre took the first game 10-1 and the second game 11-4.

Centre started the scoring in the opening inning once again when sophomore Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) had a home run to put the Colonels on top. Again, Centre's pitching and fielding was sharp as it kept Oglethorpe scoreless the first five innings.

It was all Centre in the top of the second when it brought in four runners to bring it's score to 5-0. Centre continued its scoring pattern in the fourth and fifth innings, when it scored two runs in each to bring the score to 9-0. It brought in it's final run in the top of the sixth. Oglethorpe scored it's only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth to make the final 10-1.

Freshmen Justin Basham (Bowling Green, Ky.) pitched the whole game and earned the win for Centre. He allowed only one run off five hits and came away with two strikeouts.

Five different Centre players had hits this game. Williams led the group with three hits and batted in two runs while Placido was right behind him with two hits. Junior Ben Jeffers (New Albany, Ohio), senior Eric Moore (Bowling Green, Ky.) and sophomore Brandon Rosen (Ashland, Ky.) each drove in one run.

Centre continued its hot batting and outfield streak in the second game when it defeated Oglethorpe 11-4. Centre brought in two runs in the opening inning but Oglethorpe fought back and tied the game in the bottom of the first. Oglethorpe saw it's first lead of the series in the bottom of the second when it went up on Centre and made the score 3-2. Centre held strong however, and in the top of the fourth brought in three runs to take the lead back. The Colonels made sure the game was theirs in the top of the sixth when they drove in four runs to bring the count to 9-2. They finished scoring in the top of the eighth when they brought in their final two runs.

Senior Lance Sizmore (Batavia, Ohio) started and pitched the first four innings for the Colonels. He allowed four runs off only nine hits and had one strikeout. Senior Johnny Karnes (Labanon, Ohio) finished the game and allowed only five hits and came away with three strikeouts.

Centre hitting looked good once again as seven different Colonels posted hits in the game. Moore and fellow senior Kyle Rakes (Ashland, Ky.) led the group with two hits a piece. Moore also drove in four runners.

Centre, 9-9, will face Oglethorpe in the final game of a four game series Sunday, March 25 at Anderson Field in Atlanta, Georgia at noon.