Carmel came from behind to win its first Metropolitan Conference game of the season on Tuesday, scoring four runs in the fifth inning to beat Center Grove 8-7 at Hartman Field.
Trailing 7-4 to start the bottom of the fifth, the Greyhounds started their comeback when Jackson Adams scored on a passed ball. Later, Christian Williams was walked to load the bases. Hunter Keip got home on another passed ball, then Brayden Lentz smacked a right field single to score Logan Urbanowski and Williams.
The Trojans cut the Greyhounds’ lead to 8-7 in the seventh inning with an RBI double, and had a runner on third base. But Brandon Rosenfeld finished the game with back-to-back strikeouts.
“Love the way our guys competed,” said Carmel coach Matt Buczkowski. “Love the way we got punched early and were able to come back. Those are the most fun.”
Center Grove led 4-0 midway through the second, with the Greyhounds getting on the board in the bottom of that inning when Drew Kelly doubled in Adams. The Trojans added two runs in the top of the third inning, but Carmel responded with three runs in their half of the inning: JD Rogers smacked a two-RBI double to center fielder, scoring Williams and Lentz. Rogers later got home on an error.
Lentz finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate. Williams totaled three stolen bases. Rosenfeld got the pitching win, he threw eight strikeouts in four and a third innings. Starter Drew Olssen struck out six in two and two-thirds innings.
The Greyhounds are 3-3 and will play at Center Grove tonight to complete the MIC series.
Carmel 8, Center Grove 7
Carmel AB R H RBI
Christian Williams 1 2 0 0
Brayden Lentz 3 1 2 2
JD Rogers 4 1 1 2
Dryden Schroeder 2 0 0 0
Zach Vogt 1 0 0 0
Jackson Adams 0 2 0 0
Alex Brooks 2 0 0 0
Drew Kelly 1 0 1 1
Hunter Keip 1 1 0 0
Logan Urbanowski 2 1 0 0
Jared Greene 3 0 0 0
Drew Harding 0 0 0 0
Totals 20 8 4 5
Score by innings
Center Grove 132 000 1 – 7 10 2
Carmel 013 040 x – 8 4 2
2B: Kelly, Rogers. SB: Williams 3, Adams, Lentz, Urbanowski. HBP: Keip.
Carmel pitching IP R ER H
Drew Olssen 2.2 6 4 7
Brandon Rosenfeld 4.1 3 1 1
Strikeouts: Rosenfeld 8, Olssen 6. Walks: Olssen 4, Rosenfeld 1.
Carmel’s Jackson Adams scored two runs for the Greyhounds during their win over Center Grove Tuesday at Hartman Field. (Richie Hall)