CONWAY, Ark. – Centre baseball fell by an 8-7 score to Rhodes Friday evening in their Southern Athletic Association Tournament opener, played at Warrior Field.
 
The Lynx (24-17) put up runs in only two innings, but it proved enough to put the Colonels (24-15) on the brink of elimination.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
Centre jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first, as Jake Holloway and Jordan Gunter each delivered RBI base knocks.
 
Gunter would score on a balk in the third, giving the Colonels a 3-0 advantage.
 
Rhodes hung five runs on the Colonels in the third, highlighted by Palermo's two-run homerun to left field. The Lynx added three more in the following inning, with Palermo again providing the big hit on a two-RBI single.
 
Centre's comeback bid began in the sixth, as Gunter led off with a homerun to right field. It marked his eighth bomb of the season, putting him in a three-way tie for second most in the program's single-season history.
 
Seth Hagan would score Chris Esselman on a sacrifice fly later in the frame to make it 8-5.
 
Holloway had an RBI groundout that scored Will Kirk in the seventh, and Cameron Duggins provided the same in the eighth to plate Hagan and make it 8-7.
 
Centre put the game-tying run in scoring position in the ninth, but the Lynx were able to secure the victory.
 
Gunter went 4-for-5 at the dish, scoring twice while driving in two more. Parker Selin also finished the game with multiple hits.
 
Sam Shelley made the start for Centre, surrendering five earned runs. Will Orren, Aaryn Chandler and Chris Esselman also saw action on the hill.
 
UP NEXT
Centre faces top-seed and host Hendrix in a must-win game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.