Baseball News

Baseball splits doubleheader with Hanover

After dropping the first game 8-4, the Centre College baseball team rallied from a 5-2 deficit in game two to defeat Hanover College 6-5 in eight innings in game two to split a doubleheader Wednesday, March 12 at Gary Wright Field in Danville, Ky.

The first game saw Hanover score seven runs in the first inning of Colonels' pitcher Jose Ordonez (Boston, Mass.) for an early lead. Ordonez, who was making his first career start settled down and threw two scoreless innings after that before leaving the game.

Centre got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when junior outfielder Brandon Rosen (Ashland, Ky.) hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center to cut the lead to 7-1.

After the Panthers (2-7) scored a run in the top of the sixth without a hit, the Colonels rallied in the bottom of the sixth plating three runs to cut the lead in half. That was all Centre would get though as Hanover pitcher Jake Schwartz threw a scoreless seventh to pick up the complete game victory.

Ordonez suffered the loss for Centre tossing three innings and allowing seven runs on five hits and five walks. Senior Ben Jeffers (New Albany, Ohio) was three for four with two runs driven in, while Rosen and junior Ryan Smith (Crestwood, Ky.) tallied two hits apiece.

Centre took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two. Freshman Cory Crowdis (Louisville, Ky.) had a run-scoring double for the first run followed by a run-scoring ground out by Rosen for the second run.

Junior Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) started on the mound for the Colonels and threw three hitless and scoreless innings striking out three. Sophomore pitcher Aaron Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) relieved Jones and was touched up for five runs in the top of the fourth.

Centre pushed a run across in the bottom of the inning and then added another in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one run at 5-4. Following a scoreless sixth inning, the Colonels loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with nobody out. A double-play scored a run to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

Crowdis relieved senior pitcher John Herbert (Louisville, Ky.), who threw two scoreless innings and had six strikeouts. After a scoreless top of the eighth, senior catcher Kevin McGee (Louisville, Ky.) tallied a one-out single in the bottom of the inning. Junior Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) then reached on an error and Jeffers walked to load the bases. Smith, who entered the game in the top of the inning, singled through the left side to knock in the game-winning run.

Crowdis earned his first collegiate victory to up his record to 1-0. Williams and McGee head had two hits for the Colonels. Williams also scored two runs, while McGee scored a run and drove in another.

Centre, now 6-2 on the season, will next travel to Birmingham, Ala. Saturday, March 15 to open Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play against Birmingham Southern College. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CST.