JACKSON, Miss. – Centre baseball picked up its 23rd victory of the 2024 season in thrilling fashion as the Colonels rallied to defeat the Millsaps Majors 5-4 in 11 innings to complete a critical season series sweep.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Colonels were the first to crack the scoreboard in the top of the second as
Ayden Lohr ripped a double down the line, advanced on an error and eventually scored after an RBI groundout from
Conner Jackson.
- Over the next three innings, the host Majors scored four runs following some defensive miscues by the Colonels.
- Now trailing 4-1 in the fifth, Centre got a nice burst of power at the bottom of the order as
Aaron Lopez blasted an opposite field solo homer to narrow the Millsaps lead to two runs.
- The Colonels got runners on base in each of the next two innings, but were unable to bring any of them across the plate. That all changed in the bottom of the eighth.
- With one out in the eighth,
Chase Austin went the other way with a base hit. Following a force out, Lohr stole second.
Jamie Laframboise then delivered a clutch single to bring home Lohr and keep the inning alive. After stealing second, Laframboise scored after Jackson reached on an error and the game was tied.
- In the bottom of the eighth,
David Kinsbrunner got into some trouble after Millsaps loaded the bases with one out, but the senior closer hunkered down and got out of the predicament to keep the game tied at 4-4.
- After an uneventful next two innings, the Colonels staged a two-out rally in the 11th as
Josh Cunningham walked and
Ben Prather was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch advanced the runners and
Evan Weyler followed with another walk, but ball four got away and allowed Cunningham to cross for the go-ahead run.
- A Centre error allowed the leadoff man to reach second in the bottom of the 11th, but Kinsbrunner forced the next three batters to fly out to lock down the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Lopez's solo homer in the fifth was the second blast of the year by the second-year second baseman.
- Kinsbrunner was magnificent in relief, pitching a season high 4.2 innings and not allowing a hit after the eighth to get his third victory of the season.
NEXT UP
The Colonels will return to action on Apr. 9 as they head to Legends Park to battle Transylvania.
