MASON, Ohio - Mitchell Massino went 3-for-5 with a double and drove in two runs to power a 13-hit offensive attack but it wasn't enough as the Carroll University baseball team lost to Centre College 9-8 in a gritty, hard-fought season-opening nonconference game at Prasco Park on Saturday.
Carroll led 8-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning before surrendering a two-out, three-run walk-off home run to left field by Centre sophomore left fielder Josh Cunningham.
The Pioneers erased an early 1-0 deficit by responding with three runs in the top of the third, including a game-tying RBI single to right field from Casey Mir, a run-scoring double to right field by Massino and an RBI sacrifice fly from Benton Holly.
Carroll extended the lead to 4-1 with two runs in the fourth as Justin Baker scored as the result of a throwing error and Brad Vosters followed with an RBI sacrifice fly out to center field.
Centre, which amassed 11 hits in the back-and-forth contest, answered with single runs in the fifth and sixth to trim the deficit to 5-3.
Carroll, which stranded eight baserunners in the showdown, increased its lead to 6-3 in the seventh on an RBI single from Holly.
Centre collected a single run in the bottom half of the seventh and added two in the eighth to tie the game 6-6.
Carroll showcased its late-inning composure by reclaiming the lead with two runs on four hits in the ninth, powered on clutch RBI singles to center field by Massino and Baker, setting the stage for Centre's three-hit, three-run final-inning game-winning rally.
Baker went 3-for-5 with a double and drove in a run for the Pioneers, who finished with three extra-base hits. Mir, Holly and Vosters each contributed two hits and drove in a run. 
Sophomore right-hander Brett Buzzelli earned the opening-day start for the Pioneers, yielding one earned run on one hit with three strikeouts and two walks through four complete innings.
Senior right-hander Drew McDermid came in relief of Buzzelli in the bottom of the fifth, allowing five runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk through 3 2/3 innings.
Senior right-hander and closer Jake Nitch, who entered with two outs in the eighth, allowed three runs on four hits in taking the loss.
Dillon Di lorio and Teddy Holloway and Will Ahrens each had two hits and drove in a run for Centre, which had four extra-base hits and stranded five runners on base. 
David Sickles was the winning pitcher, allowing three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks through the final three innings for the Colonels.
The Pioneers will wrap-up the season-opening three-game road trip with a doubleheader versus Centre to begin at 10 a.m. Sunday.
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