Behind strong pitching, Centre sweeps Calvin in twin bill

The Centre College baseball team got two more strong outings from its pitching staff and the Colonels swept a doubleheader from Calvin College winning 4-2 in game one and 4-1 in game two Friday, March 4 at Gary Wright Field in Danville, Ky.

With the two wins, Centre has now won three straight and improves to 4-6 overall, while Calvin, playing its first games of the season, fall to 0-2.

Game one was scoreless into the bottom of the fifth. After a fly-out to open the inning, senior first baseman Steven Proctor (Springfield, Ga.) walked and junior catcher Cameron Fishman (Northridge, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Senior third baseman Cory Crowdis (Louisville, Ky.) then delivered a two-run double to right-center field for a 2-0 Centre lead.

The Colonels added a third run in the inning with a bases-loaded walk to freshman outfielder Kyle Neu (Cincinnati, Ohio) for a 3-0 advantage.

The Knights answered in the sixth. With runners on first and second and one out, Peter Steiner doubled home both runners to cut the lead to 3-2.

Centre added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore shortstop Aaron Ammann (Winnetka, Calif.) led off with a bunt single. He then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and stole third before scoring on a wild pitch.

Sophomore pitcher Adam Hoyt (Rockfield, Ky.) then threw a scoreless seventh striking out the side to earn his first career save.

Junior pitcher Joe Nash (Elizabethtown, Ky.) earned his first win of the season going six innings and allowing two runs on only four hits. Nash walked two and struck out eight to improve to 1-2 on the year.

Ammann was the lone Colonel to finish with multiple hits, going 2-3 in the game.

The second game saw good pitching from both teams as well. Calvin's Scott Tipton opened the scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to right field for a 1-0 lead, but with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the second Ammann lined a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to put Centre in front 3-1.

The Colonels, again, added a late run as sophomore outfielder Jason Osterman (Monroe, Ohio) hit a one-out single. He then stole second and moved to third as the throw from the catcher went to center field. With the infield drawn in, junior catcher Jordan Ellis (Crestwood, Ky.) hit a ground ball to shortstop, but Osterman was able to beat the throw home to give Centre a 4-1 lead.

Junior pitcher Ben Lause (Mason, Ohio) and the Colonels' defense did the rest. Lause earned the team's first complete game of the season throwing seven innings and allowing only one run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts to improve to 2-1 this year.

Osterman finished the game 2-3 with a run scored.

Centre's game against Calvin Sunday, March 5 has been cancelled due to rain and the Colonels will next play Wednesday, March 9 when they host Transylvania at 5:30 p.m. at Gary Wright Field in Danville, Ky.