DANVILLE, Ky. - The Centre baseball team opened the 2026 season with the first two of a three-game series against a University of Chicago squad that was receiving votes in both preseason top 25 polls. The Colonels came away with a doubleheader split, losing the opener 5-3 before rebounding with a 9-1 victory in the second game.
Game 1: Chicago 5, Centre 3
- The visiting Maroons struck first as a walk and two hits in the top of the second produced the first run of the game.
- Centre struggled early on against the Chicago pitching, but mounted a rally in the fifth as
Evan Rygalski smashed a double into the opposite field gap to lead off. Pinch runner
Wesley Taylor eventually scored on a shot up the middle from
Forrest Day to tie the score.
- Chicago made a big two-out rally in the seventh with a man on first as two walks and three singles led to four runs to put the Colonels in a hole.
- In Centre's half of the seventh, the Colonels loaded the bases after
Graham Johnson walked,
Jamison Craig was hit by a pitch and
Matthew Maggard worked a pinch-hit walk. A base hit by
Chase Austin plated a run for the Colonels, followed by an RBI groundout by
Ayden Lohr to cut the deficit in half at 5-3.
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Aaron Lopez led off the eighth with a single and hits from
Jonah Porter and Johnson loaded the bases with one out, but Chicago pitched out of the jam and that proved to be the last time Centre threatened.
Game 2: Centre 9, Chicago 1
- Pitching dominated the first half of the game as neither team dented the scoreboard until the fifth when Centre first got on the board after consecutive doubles from Day and Austin. Another double from
Evan Weyler made it 2-0 Centre and Lopez then blasted one over the big wall in left field for a two-run shot.
- The Colonels kept the run going in the fifth as Rygalski and Johnson walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Craig laid down an excellent bunt for a single that scored pinch runner
Tristan Vallone to cap off the five-run inning that saw Chicago utilize four different pitchers.
- Centre continued to apply pressure in the sixth as Austin led off with a solo homer and Lohr followed with a single. After stealing second, Lohr then stole third and the throw went wide, allowing the center fielder to score to make it 7-0.
- The Maroons got after the Centre bullpen in the seventh, scoring a run on two hit by pitches and two walks.
TJ Schira came into the game with the bases loaded and nobody out and shut the door on Chicago, getting a short fly ball and two strikeouts to avoid further damage.
- Austin and Lohr kickstarted another rally in the eighth, leading off the inning with singles. With Austin on third, a pickoff throw got away, allowing Austin to score. Lohr then beat the tag at the plate on a ground ball from Lopez to make it 9-1.
- Schira capped off his outstanding outing by striking out the side in the ninth to end the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORES
- Austin, Lopez and Lohr all finished with four hits in the doubleheader to lead the Colonels. Austin and Lopez finished with three RBIs each across the two games.
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Nolan Asher got the win for the Colonels in game 2 with a promising debut, allowing just two hits in six innings while striking out nine, the highest total by an SAA freshman in his first collegiate game.
- Schira wrapped up game 2 with three perfect innings, striking out six.
NEXT UP
Centre and Chicago will play the rubber match in their series on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 PM, but with heavy rain in the forecast, stay tuned to CentreColonels.com and the Centre Athletics social media channels for updates.
