Centre College scored three runs in the top of the first inning and the Colonels never trailed en route to a 9-6 non-conference win against the Hamilton College Continentals at Lake Myrtle Field in Auburndale, Florida, on Wednesday.

Ethan Wallis '21 led Hamilton (4-4 overall) with a career-high four hits and his first home run with the Continentals. Wallis tops the team with a .440 batting average. Matt Zaffino '21 singled twice and drove in two runs, and Joe Suski '21 added two hits. Ian Nish '19 (1-2) started on the mound, pitched two innings and took the loss. Sam Thoreen '22 tossed two shutout innings as he struck out three and allowed one hit.

Parker Selin had three hits including a double and scored three runs for Centre (12-6). Drew Schacht went 3-for-4 with two walks and Will Kirk singled, doubled and drove in two runs. Chris Esselman went 2-for-3 with a triple and two walks. Aaryn Chandler (1-0) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless fifth inning and Schacht earned his fourth save by fanning three in two perfect innings.

Hamilton trailed 4-0 but cut its deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the third. Wallis led off with a home run to dead center and Zaffino singled through the left side and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Continentals pulled within a run in the fourth when Jordan Northrup '19 led off with a bunt single and later scored on a wild pitch. The Colonels restored their two-run lead in the fifth but Hamilton cut it to 5-4 in the sixth. Jarrett Lee '21 was hit by a pitch and eventually became the third Continental to cross home plate on a wild pitch.

Centre scored three times in the seventh inning and went back up by four runs at 8-4. Hamilton tried to rally with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Suski led off with a bunt single and Wallis followed with another bunt base hit. A fielder's choice put runners at the corners before Brady Slinger '22 stole second base. Zaffino drove in both runners with a single through the left side but was left stranded at first base. He was the last base runner for the Continentals.

Hamilton is back on the diamond on Friday, March 22 with a doubleheader against Illinois Institute of Technology. The first game at Lake Myrtle Field No. 8 starts at 9:15 a.m.