2007 SCAC Divisional Baseball Tournament

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Austin College scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to put away Centre College, 12-2, in a run-rule shortened game that opened the 2007 SCAC Divisional Baseball Tournament Friday morning at Millington USA Field.

With the win, the 'Roos (18-22) have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Tomorrow's second game against the two teams will be at 11 a.m. CT.

Friday's game started as a pitching dual between Centre's John Hebert and Austin's Will Chermak with the 'Roos managing to plate a run in both the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead.

The Colonels came back with two runs in the top of the sixth on three hits and an Austin error to knot the score at 3.

But from that point, it was the Lee Cohen show as the Austin sophomore first baseman almost single-handedly slugged the West Division's second-seeded team to victory.

His two-run single in the sixth plated the second and third runs of the inning for the 'Roos and his three-run home run to right center in the seventh opened the floodgates as Austin plated seven runs in the bottom of the inning to 10-run rule the Colonels, 12-2.

Chermak went the distance for Austin, pitching 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just one earned run in improving to 5-3. He struck out two and walked four.

Herbert seemed to run out of gas after the fifth after pitching well for four innings. His final line was 6.2 innings pitched, 13 hits allowed, nine runs allowed (eight earned) with six striketouts and a walk.

Cohen finished 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a run scored. John Reisig had four hits in five trips, including a double, and knocked in two runs while scoring twice. Scooter Means was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and a RBI. Patrick Ray and Andy White each had two hits. The 'Roos banged out 15 hits en route to their 12 runs.

For Centre, Eric Moore and Kyle Rakes each had two hits in three trips and Andy Placido had the Colonels' only RBI. All seven of Centre's hit were singles.