Baseball News

Centre baseball falls 9-8 in extra innings to DePauw

After leading by four runs in the seventh inning, the Centre College baseball team suffered their first loss of the season 9-8 in extra innings against DePauw University Sunday, March 2 at Gary Wright Field in Danville , Ky.

The loss puts the Colonels at 4-1 on the year and the Tigers improve to 4-2 early in the season. Although these teams are conference rivals, this game does not count in the conference standings for either team.

DePauw got on the board in the first inning on junior pitcher Jake Jones (Griffin , Ga.). Jones walked the Tigers' leadoff hitter, then after a Centre error and a pair of Tiger hits, DePauw found themselves ahead early with a 3-0 lead.

Centre did not wait long to open up their scoring. Junior Brandon Rosen (Ashland , Ky.) led off the second inning with a double and freshman Steven Proctor (Springfield , Ga.) drove him in with a single to cut the lead to 3-1. DePauw would add a run of its own in the top of the fourth inning on a solo homerun by third baseman Mike Stout.

The Colonels bats got going in the fourth inning, as they put up two runs on RBI singles by freshman John Clark (Lexington , Ky.) and senior Ben Jeffers (New Albany , Ohio). The Colonels added three more in the fifth, due in large part to a two run double by senior Kevin McGee (Louisville , Ky.). The Colonels would put up their final two runs in the sixth on an RBI single by freshman Cory Crowdis (Louisville , Ky.) and an RBI squeeze bunt by Rosen to put Centre up 8-4.

DePauw rallied with four runs on six hits in the eighth inning to tie up the game.Following a scoreless ninth inning for both teams, DePauw scored the game winning run in the tenth inning when left-fielder Matt Kleine was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score a run.

Jones went six innings on the mound for the Colonels, allowing four runs – two earned – on six hits while walking four and striking out three. He was relieved in the seventh by sophomore Jose Ordonez (Boston , Mass.). Ordonez allowed four runs on five hits and struck out one in an inning and a third. Junior Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville , Tenn.) suffered the loss for the Colonels. Williams relieved Ordonez in the eighth and got out of the inning with the score still tied, and after a scoreless ninth, he allowed the go ahead run in the tenth. Williams went two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out two.

Derek Bryant picked up the win for the Tigers. He threw three and two thirds innings, allowing no runs and only one hit while striking out two and walking one. Paul Rodenhouse recorded the save for the Tigers after working a scoreless tenth inning.

For the Colonels, Clark had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in one. Rosen had two hits and scored two runs, while McGee had two hits and drove in two runs.

Third basemen Mike Stout and shortstop Eric Reese each had three hits for the Tigers, and leftfielder Matt Kleine drove in three runs.

Centre will return to action Wednesday, March 5 when it hosts Maryville College . First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Gary Wright Field in Danville , Ky.