Hanover, IN - For the third time in as many series, Centre Softball split its doubleheader in Indiana. This time, it happened at Hanover to wrap up the trip.
Game 1: Hanover 10, Centre 2 (6 innings)
Centre threatened off the start as the Colonels put two runners on in the top of the 1st. They would be stranded as
Kennedy Caudill grounded out to end the threat. Caudill then took the ball to start the game in the circle and got into trouble immediately. Two singles, a double, and ground out put Hanover up, 1-0. Another single followed for a 2-0 lead. Caudill gave up another single and a walk to load the bases. She bounced back with a called third strike to retire the side and limit the damage.
Caudill found herself in trouble to start the bottom of the 2nd. She hit the first batter of the inning then walked the next 2 to immediately load the bases. Hanover took advantage by putting two more runs on the board to take a 4-0 lead to the 3rd. They would add more in the bottom of the 3rd as Caudill loaded the bases for the 3rd straight inning and paid the price for the final time. A bases-clearing triple gave Hanover a 7-0 lead and ended Caudill's day in the circle after just 2.1 innings.
Katherine Weller took over and was able to retire the side.
Centre finally got on the board in the top of the 5th.
Jada Challiss started with a double to left.
Kira Mashburn then tapped an infield single to 2nd as Challiss motored around to score. Mashburn would ultimately come around on a
Baylee Estes grounder to cut Hanover's lead to 7-2. Hanover got a run back on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th, Hanover loaded the bases once more before an out was recorded. A walk pushed a 9th run in. Two batters later, a wild pitch from Weller around a run to score from 3rd for a 10-2 score to bring the game to and end via the run rule.
Kennedy Caudill suffered the loss to drop to 4-2 on the season.
Game 2: Centre 7, Hanover 2
For the first time this season,
Layne Ogle took the ball and got the start in the circle for the Colonels as they looked to salvage the split.
She would be gifted a lead in the top of the 1st.
Baylee Estes started with a 1-0 single to center.
Brinley Muller followed with a single of her own as Estes reached 2nd. Two batters later,
Emily Lammers crushed a double to left to send the speedy Estes and Muller home to give Ogle a 2-0 lead before throwing a pitch. Ogle showed a bit of nerve to start as she walked the first two batters of the bottom of the inning. She bounced back with a fly out and strike out, but Hanover got a 2-out single to cut Centre's lead to 2-1 after 1. Hanover added another run in the bottom of the second to tie the game.
After a quiet 3rd, each team left two runners on in the 4th, but the game stayed tied at 2. Centre broke through for the lead in the 5th.
Cheney Floyd led off with a walk and moved to 2nd on a
Baylee Estes sac bunt. Floyd moved to 3rd on a passed ball and scored on a
Brinley Muller single for a 3-2 lead. Ogle retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to maintain the lead.
Centre played add-on in the 6th.
Jada Challiss doubled to start, followed by a bunt single from
Kira Mashburn.
Rylee Sandifer then grounded out to short as Challiss scored for a 4-2 Colonels lead. Two batters later, Estes laced a triple to left to score Mashburn. Muller then delivered another RBI single as Centre took a 6-2 lead.
Kennedy Caudill added a sacrifice fly in the top of the 7th to complete the win.
Layne Ogle picked up the win in a complete game, allowing 2 runs on only 2 hits. She worked around six walks but also had 5 strikeouts on 101 pitches.
The Colonels now return home and to SAA play and celebrate Senior Weekend as Sewanee comes to Danville for a 3-game set, starting Friday night. Senior Day takes place during Saturday's doubleheader.
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