HANOVER, Ind. – Centre baseball picked up a 5-1 nonconference victory Wednesday afternoon at Hanover, capitalizing on a
Chris Esselman two-run homer and a solid outing from its pitching staff at KT Young Ballpark.
The Colonels improve to 17-9 overall with the victory, defeating the Panthers (8-10) for the second time in as many seasons.
HIGHLIGHTS
Centre rookie
Carson Werrmann got the starting nod, and faced some early pressure in the bottom of the second as the Panthers loaded the bases. He would escape the inning unscathed, but Hanover would get one across in the third on a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.
After their first potential run got cut down at the plate in the top of the third, the Colonels took a 2-1 lead scoring a pair in the fourth inning. With two outs on the board,
Mason Falbo reached on an error, and Esselman made the Panthers pay with a homerun over the fence in right center. It marked his second collegiate homer and first of the season.
Werrman's outing ended after four innings, in which he scattered four hits and struck out four batters.
Hogan Brownley came on in relief, tossing two scoreless frames before
Aaryn Chandler took over on the mound. Chandler would also throw two scoreless innings, and the two combined to allow only two hits.
Falbo led off the ninth with a double, sparking a late rally to add insurance to the Colonels' lead. Hope drew a pinch-hit walk with the bases loaded, and
Will Kirk followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.
Drew Schacht's infield single scored
Parker Selin, bringing the lead to 5-1.
That proved plenty for Schacht, who turned in a one-two-three ninth on the mound to slam the door.
Centre's four pitchers gave up eight hits and one walk, totaling eight strikeouts.
At the plate, Kirk and Falbo each totaled two hits, and Esselman scored twice.
UP NEXT
The Colonels return to the Southern Athletic Association slate this weekend with a three-game series at Rhodes in Memphis, Tenn. With a 5-6 SAA record, Centre sits a spot behind the Lynx (7-5) in the conference standings.