Baseball News

Six-run seventh propels Colonels to 14-9 win in baseball

Battling the weather for the second straight day, the Centre College baseball team rallied to score nine runs in the sixth and seventh innings on its way to a 14-9 win over North Central College, Sunday, Feb. 24 at Gary Wright Field in Danville, Ky.

The win gives the Colonels their second win in as many days to up their record to 2-0, while North Central falls to 0-2 in the early going. The two teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader, but played only one game due to the weather.

Following a scoreless first inning by both teams, the Cardinals crossed the plate three times in the top of the second to take a 3-0 lead. The game began with snow flurries falling, but after an inning and a half of play, the game was halted due to heavier snow.

The two teams resumed play and in the bottom of the third inning, Centre scored four runs on only two hits, but received help courtesy of three North Central errors. Four different players drove in a run, including sophomore designated hitter John Starks (Russellville, Ky.), who had a run-scoring double down the left field line for the second run.

The Colonels added a solo tally in the fifth inning, but allowed one by the Cardinals in the top of the sixth to make the score 6-5 in favor of North Central.

Centre answered in the bottom of the sixth with three more runs on two hits and two more errors. The big hit of the inning was a two-run triple to the right field corner by senior outfielder Ben Jeffers (New Albany, Ohio). The relay throw to third sailed over the fence and Jeffers ended up scoring on the play to put the Colonels ahead 8-6.

The Cardinals failed to score in the top of the seventh, but were unable to keep Centre scoreless as the Colonels scored six times in the bottom of the inning. Again, Centre had only two hits, but also walked twice and had a hit by pitch. Junior outfielder Jeffrey Williams (Knoxville, Tenn.) recorded his first hit of the season in the inning, a two-run triple, and the lead grew to 14-6.

North Central rallied in the top of the ninth to score three runs and pull within 14-9, but junior Jake Jones (Griffin, Ga.) struck out the final two hitters he faced to end the game.

Freshman pitcher Andy Hagerman (Lexington, Ky.) started his first collegiate game on the mound for the Colonels and threw four innings, allowing four earned runs with two strikeouts. Jones pitched the final five innings to record the win. He allowed two earned runs and struck out four for his first victory of the season.

Jeffers and sophomore shortstop Steven Kull (Frankfort, Ky.) finished with two hits apiece for Centre. Jeffers also drove in three runs and scored two more, while Kull scored three times and drove in another. Jones and sophomore second baseman Jose Ordonez (Boston, Mass.) score two runs each, and Williams ended the day with three runs driven in.

Matt Blaine took the loss for North Central after allowing four runs - three earned - in three innings of work. Dom Sabatino had three hits and Adam Dobrez and Steve Hlavac added two hits apiece.

Centre will return to action Thursday, Feb. 28 when it hosts Asbury College. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Gray Wright Field in Danville, Ky.