Baseball News

Baseball team opens season with walk-off victory

With the field covered in snow earlier in the day, the Centre College baseball was forced to push back the start time of its season-opener, but the wait was worth it as the Colonels got a walk-off single from junior outfielder Brandon Rosen (Ashland, Ky.) to defeat North Central College 6-5, Saturday, Feb. 23 at Gary Wright Field in Danville, Ky.

Centre won their season-opening game for the fourth consecutive season to improve to 1-0, while North Central, also playing their first game of the season, falls to 0-1.

After recording the first two outs of the first inning, senior pitcher John Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) allowed two infield singles to put Cardinal runners at first and second. North Central catcher Zach Ernst then delivered a single to left field to score one run, but Centre senior outfielder Ben Jeffers (New Albany, Ohio) nailed the second runner attempting to score to end the inning.

The Colonels answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of one hit, three hit batters and two errors to go ahead 4-1 after one inning of play.

The score remained that way until the top of the fifth inning when the Cardinals plated two unearned runs. A third run would have scored, but Jeffers posted his second assist from left field to end the inning with Centre still ahead 4-3.

Once again, the Colonels answered in the bottom of the inning. Junior third baseman Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) led off the Centre half of the inning with a long home run to right field to push the lead back to two runs at 5-3.

North Central added another run in the sixth inning to pull within one and then tied the game in the eighth with help from an error by the Colonels.

Following a scoreless top of the ninth, the Cardinals opened the bottom with an out. Jones then reached on an error to second base followed by a single by freshman designated hitter Cory Crowdis (Louisville, Ky.) to give Centre runners at first and second with one out. Rosen then stepped to the plate and delivered a single to right field just out of the reach of North Central's diving second baseman to plate Jones and give the Colonels the walk-off victory.

Herbert earned a no decision after tossing six inning and allowing only two earned runs. He struck out five while walking three. His brother, sophomore pitcher Aaron Herbert (Louisville, Ky.) earned his first career win throwing the final three innings and allowing only one unearned run on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks.

Jones, Crowdis and Rosen each finished the day with two hits apiece. Jones scored three of Centre's run and drove in two more, while Rosen scored a run to go along with his game-winning rbi.

North Central's Erik Hudson was the tough luck loser after allowing one unearned run over 2.1 innings. Matt Mahay led the offense going four for five with two runs scored and another driven in.

The two teams, which were originally scheduled to play a doubleheader on opening day, will now play two games Sunday, Feb. 24. First pitch of game one is set for 11 a.m. in Danville, Ky.