DANVILLE, Ky. – The Centre baseball team opened its 2023 season with a huge test as they welcomed the no. 10 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets to Gary Wright Field at Fishman Park. The Yellow Jackets took both of today's games from the series by respective scores of 11-0 and 9-7.
 
Game 1: BW 11, Centre 0
 
- Baldwin Wallace got off to a hot start with the bats, scoring two runs in each of the first three innings.
- The Yellow Jackets effectively put the game away in the fourth with a three-run home run to make it 9-0.
- After another homer in the eighth drove in two runs, the Colonels needed to score twice to extend the game, but after Aaron Lopez walked, Centre was unable to move him across to keep the game alive.
 
Game 2: BW 9, Centre 7
 
- The Jackets began the game with a run in the first, but starting pitcher Ben Prather pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam to avoid any further damage.
- Josh Cunningham led off Centre's half of the first with a double down the left field line and then stole third. Karson Thompson blasted a homer over the left field fence to put the Colonels on top. One batter later, Will Cline went yard with a solo shot, giving Centre back to back home runs and a 3-1 lead.
- Centre added to the lead in the second. Lopez ripped a leadoff double off the left field wall, and then was driven in by a double from Conner Jackson. Two batters later, Cunningham doubled for the second time in a row to score Jackson and put Centre up 5-1.
- Baldwin Wallace chipped away with three runs over the next two innings to cut the deficit to one run. In the bottom of the fourth, Evan Weyler found himself at third after a pair of walks and a fielder's choice. Dillon Di Iorio stole second and the ensuing throw allowed Weyler to cross the plate to give Centre a 6-4 edge.
- In the top of the seventh, the Jackets again loaded the bases, but this time they capitalized as a deep double scored all three runners to retake the lead at 7-6.
- Di Iorio led off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit and then a hit and run with a single from Thompson put runners at the corners. Thompson then stole second, and when the throw was not fielded cleanly, Di Iorio rushed in for the tying run.
- Baldwin Wallace quickly retook the lead in the eighth as a hit by pitch and an error started off a two-run rally.
- Centre threatened again with two outs in the ninth. Jamie Laframboise walked, Luc Morgan got an infield hit and then Lopez walked again to load the bases, but the next at-bat resulted in a pop-up to end the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORES
 
- Cline's homer in the first inning of game 2 was the second of his career and the first since March of last year against Transylvania.
- The Colonels finished with 11 hits in game 2, led by Cunningham, Thompson and Morgan with two each.
- Freshman Zach Heavern pitched well in relief during game 1, striking out six in five innings of work.
 
NEXT UP
 
Centre baseball will conclude its series with Baldwin Wallace on Sunday.