The Grinnell College baseball team got off to a fast start, but host Central College rallied for an 8-3 non-conference win Wednesday afternoon in Pella.
Matt Skelly ’12 had two hits for Grinnell, while Mike Nodzenski ’12 added a homer to boost Grinnell’s five-hit attack.
Grinnell scored two of its runs in the top of the first inning. Skelly singled to lead off the frame, moved to second on a throwing error, took third on a groundout and scored when Nodzenski blasted his second homer of the year.
Central tied it with two runs in the bottom of the first and added two more in the second for a 4-2 lead.
Grinnell closed within 4-3 in the fourth when Jackson Markey ’14 walked with one out, moved to second on a walk by J.R. Downick ’14, stole third and then stole home.
However, Central countered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, scored again in the seventh and twice more in the eighth.
Jason Ormond ’13 suffered the loss.
Central improved to 13-3 with the win, while the Pioneers fell to 5-12.
Grinnell opens Midwest Conference play Saturday when Knox College visits North Diamond for two games. The first pitch is at 1 p.m.
