On Wednesday the Crimson notched its fifth one-run win with a 3-2 victory over Centennial, piecing together performances from three pitchers and demonstrating once more that the team simply knows how to win.

“I think that says a lot about our team,” junior Brady Jacobs said. “We can do the little things and win ballgames, even if we’re not hitting the ball, we find ways.”

Added coach Darby Carlson about his lineup, which is typically the strength of the team: “You like to be in a game where you’re scoring lots of runs, but the reality is you’re going to face good pitching -- that’s all that’s left in the section. So the question becomes, are you going to win the 2-1, 3-2 ballgam?”

Maple Grove was able to Wednesday, despite facing one of the sections best pitchers in Centennial’s Josh Matheson, who came into the game with a 1.97 ERA.

“I don’t know who has a better 1-2 in the state,” said Carlson of the duo that includes Austin Malinowski , whom the Crimson faced in their regular-season win over Centennial. “Matheson is tougher than nails. We hoped to just kind of hang on and be close.”

They did just that. After falling behind 2-0, when starting pitcher Jake Schwager (8-0) gave up two hits and a walk in the first inning, the Crimson was able to tie the game on a two-run homer from Jacobs, who came into the game hitting .387.

“It was probably not the start we wanted, but I don’t think there was ever a sense of panic,” Jacobs said of the initial deficit. “We just knew we had to chip away and come right back at them. I really wanted to step up for my team, I was looking to get a good pitch and I connected with it well.”

In the third, the Crimson got the winning run when Logan Hershey led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Joe Franta. Centennial was able to move guys to third base three mores times after that but was unable to score. Maple Grove’s Tyler Field followed Schwager and pitched a scoreless sixth, and Mitch Bauer closed out the game with two consecutive strikeouts.

Up next Maple Grove will face another sure challenge Friday from Coon Rapids, which is 17-5 and was ranked No.6 in the metro by the Star Tribune this week.

“We have a lot of respect for their program,” Carlson said. “That coaching staff and those kids are always well-prepared and they do the right things. It’s going to be a good game.”