BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Centre baseball team concluded its weather-induced three-game opening series of the season with a rematch against the no. 25 Hendrix Warriors. The Colonels knocked off the Warriors by a score of 7-4.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Unlike both of last night's games, today's contest had a quiet start as the two teams were held scoreless through the first two innings.
- In the third, the Colonels produced their first rally of the game as
Joshua Cunningham was hit by a pitch,
Jamie Laframboise singled and
Jake Holloway walked. Starting pitcher
Chris Esselman came to the plate and drove them all home with a grand slam.
- The Warriors manufactured runs in the third and fourth innings to cut the 4-0 Centre lead in half, but the Colonels extended it again in the fifth on an opposite field solo blast from
Jake Holloway.
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Will Cline produced the sixth run of the game for the Colonels, leading off with a walk and eventually scoring on a rare balk call against the Warriors. Hendrix got the run back following the third Centre error of the game, but
David Sickles pitched his way out of the jam with minimal damage and it was 6-3 entering the eighth inning.
- The Colonels loaded the bases again in the eighth and Esselman delivered again, scoring
Jordan Gunter with a base hit to right field.
- In the bottom of the ninth, Hendrix scored a run and loaded the bases with one out, but
Luc Morgan struck out the last two batters to wrap up the win for the Colonels.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Esselman's five RBIs on the day gave him nine for the opening series of the season. He also picked up the win, allowing one hit and one run in four innings of work.
- Gunter, Laframboise, Esselman and Cunningham all stole bases for the Colonels in the game and Centre did not get caught stealing once. Meanwhile, in the third inning Cline nailed Hendrix's Rally Miller on an attempted steal of third.
NEXT UP
Centre baseball will return to action this weekend with a three-game set against Oglethorpe that will not count on the conference schedule.
