DANVILLE, Ky. – The Centre baseball team battled the no. 3 ranked Birmingham-Southern Panthers through wind, snow and hail at Gary Wright Field at Fishman Park. Ultimately long balls proved to be the difference as the Panthers prevailed 13-9 in ten innings.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Panthers took a 2-0 lead through the first three innings after a sacrifice bunt RBI and a solo homer.
- In Centre's half of the third,
Conner Jackson and
Jordan Gunter drew consecutive walks. A single by
Mark Pyburn plated the first run of the day for the Colonels.
Patrick Hope then reached on an infield hit to score Gunter and tie the game.
- BSC led off the fourth inning with a solo home run, and then tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-2 lead.
- When Centre came to bat in the fifth, Gunter led off with a single that deflected off the pitcher's leg.
Mark Pyburn walked and
Josh Cunningham ripped a base hit up the middle to drive in a run. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and Hope walked to load the bases.
Karson Thompson lined a sharp single to left that scored a pair of runs and cut the deficit to 6-5. Following a pitching change, Hope scored on a sac fly by
Luc Morgan and Thompson scored after a passed ball to give Centre a 7-6 lead.
- Things finally calmed down for a bit until the bottom of the seventh when Pyburn worked a walk with the bases loaded to score
Perry Nadreau, giving Centre an insurance run.
- BSC got a run back in the eighth and then took the lead in the ninth on a two-run homer by Jack Fleming.
- Now trailing 9-8,
Dillon Di Iorio led off the ninth for Centre with a pinch hit double. With pinch runner
Will Kempf on third, Cunningham reached on an error and the Colonels scored the tying run to extend the game.
- The Panthers stormed back in the tenth with a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot by Fleming. Centre loaded the bases with two outs in the tenth, but BSC put an end to the rally to take the marathon win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Gunter and Pyburn combined to go 6-10 at the plate with three walks, two RBIs and three runs scored. Gunter's four hits on the day were a season high.
- The Panthers hit five home runs on the day, including three in the final two innings. Four of the five homers were hit to right field by left-handed batters.
- Centre batters walked 12 times today, with Hope leading the way with four free passes.
NEXT UP
Centre baseball will wrap up its series with Birmingham-Southern with a Sunday doubleheader. First pitch time for game 1 is slated for 12 pm.
