Centre falls 0-4 to Rhodes in conferences games
The Centre College baseball team dropped four conference games to Rhodes College this past weekend. The Colonels started the series on Friday, March 30, played a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31, and concluded the match-up on Sunday, April 1. Rhodes swept the series winning the first game 7-3. It then took the doubleheader games 10-3 and 19-9. The final game ended 12-1.
The teams felt each other out in the opening game. Rhodes took a 2-0 lead on Centre in the first inning. It was not until the bottom of the sixth when Centre posted a run. Senior Eric Moore (Bowling Green, Ky.) stepped up for the Colonels in an attempt to lead a scoring run. He batted in sophomore Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) to make the score 3-1. The Colonel's comeback was quickly ended when the Lynx scored four runs in the top of the seventh. The Colonels could only answer with two runs, one coming in the bottom of the eighth and the other in the bottom of the ninth.
Junior John Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) started and pitched the first six innings for Centre. He allowed seven runs off 10 hits and came away with three strikeouts. He was replaced by senior Johnny Karnes (Labanon, Ohio) in the seventh. Karnes had two strikeouts while on the mound. He pitched only one inning before being replaced by junior Jarrod Williams (Carrollton, Ky.). Williams finished the game for the Colonels by allowing only one hit.
Seven different Centre players had hits throughout the game. Junior Ben Jeffers (New Albany, Ohio) was the only one to have a multiple hit game.
Centre played much better in the second game, the first of the doubleheader. It scored in it's opening inning and held Rhodes scoreless until the sixth. The Lynx woke up and brought in 10 runs in the top of the sixth. Centre tried to cut down the Rhodes lead but could only bring in two runs before the game ended.
Senior Lance Sizmore (Batavia, Ohio) pitched the first five innings. He allowed four runs off five hits and had two strikeouts. Karnes came in to relieve Sizmore but was not able to pitch the entire inning before being replaced by Jeffrey Williams. Williams pitched the final inning and allowed only one hit.
Only four batters for Centre had hits this game. Moore was the only one to have a multiple hit game.
The second game of the day saw an exciting game as both team continued to put up runs throughout the game. Centre saw it's first lead of the series in the opening innings when it brought in seven runs over the first three innings to go up on Rhodes 7-6. Rhodes saw an opening in the top of the fourth when it brought in five runs to put Centre behind again. The Lynx then went on the score eight runs in the last five innings while allowing Centre to bring in only one.
The Centre pitchers had problems betting balls past the Rhodes batters. Freshmen Justin Basham (Bowling Green, Ky.) played the first two innings for the Colonels. He allowed six runs off six hits. Jarrod Williams replaced him in the third. Williams allowed eight runs off seven hits and came away with two strikeouts. Freshmen Aaron Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) came in to finish the game. He pitched the final four innings and allowed five runs off seven hits and had two strikeouts.
The Centre bats had a much more productive game as eight different batters had hits for the Colonels. Jeffers had four hits and batted in three runners. Jeffrey Williams had three hits.
The final game of the series was dominated by Rhodes. The game was quiet in the opening two innings but Rhodes changed that in the top of the third when it batted in two runs. The Lynx batters brought in 10 runs over the next six innings. They also kept Centre scoreless until the final inning of the game when Centre got a single homer from Freshmen John Starks (Russellville, Ky.).
Senior Andy Placido (Nicholasville, Ky.) pitched the opening five innings. He allowed eight runs off 11 hits and struck out two players. He was replaced by sophomore Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) in the sixth. Jones struck out four batters and allowed one run off three hits. Karnes came in to finish the game and pitched the final inning. He allowed three runs off three hits and had one strikeout.
Centre's offense could offer little help to the defense as 11 batters were struck out. Centre only had five hits the entire game. Jeffers was the only Centre players to have multiple hits.
Centre, 10-13, 4-4 SCAC, will play Hanover College in a doubleheader Wednesday, April 4 at Wright Field in Danville, Ky. starting at 5 pm. |
