(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - The Thomas More College rally from a 12-5 deficit to defeat Centre College, 13-12, today (Wednesday, April 9, 2014) in a non-conference game at Thomas More Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 12-9 and with the loss, the Colonels fall to 11-17.
Senior right fielder Cody Makin (Cincinnati,Ohio/Elder) hit three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to help give the Saints a 5-2 lead. Centre added a run in the second, six runs in the third, two in the fifth and on in the seventh to build a 12-5 lead after six and a half innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Thomas More plated five runs to cut the lead to 12-10. In the eighth inning, sophomore designated hitter Donovan Pogue (Sharonville, Ohio/St. Xavier) hit a two-run double to tie the game at 12-12. Senior shortstop/second baseman Tyler Graber (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) hit a SAC fly scoring Pogue for the eventual game winning run as Thomas More held Centre scoreless in the ninth for the 13-12 win.
Senior third baseman Travis Miller (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) led Saints at the plate as he was four-for-four with a double and three runs scored. Three other Saints had multiple hits in the game as Graber was two-for-four with a double, four runs batted-in and a runs scored, Pogue was two-for-five with a double, two RBI and two runs scored and junior pinch hitter/left fielder Nick Connor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) was two-for-two with a RBI and a run scored.
Eight pitchers saw action on the mount for the Saints. Freshman Michael Luebbe (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) earned his first collegiate win as he pitched a scoreless eighth inning and gave up only one hit and walked one. Senior Andy Roenker (Taylor Mill, Ky./Holy Cross) pitched two-thirds of an inning and didn't allow a hit or run, while striking out one to earn his fifth save of the season.
Thomas More returns to action on Friday (April 11) when it opens a three-game Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) series with Waynesburg University as the two teams will play a single nine-inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Thomas More Field.