SHREVEPORT-The Centenary baseball team won its mid-week contest, 11-3 in a rain-shortened, seven-inning game, over Texas College on Thursday evening in non-conference action.
The Gents' (6-6) pitching staff held the Steers (4-19) to just two hits and struck out 10 through seven frames, while the offense connected on seven of their own and took advantage of seven walks and four hit-by-pitches.
Seven different players picked up a hit for Centenary, led by freshman Matt Creamer with a 1x3 effort, while driving in three runs. Seniors Cliff Shepard (1x3, 2 R, RBI), Michael Tompkins (1x3, R, RBI), Tell Ross (1x2, 2 R, RBI), juniors Alex Todd (1x2, R, RBI) and Derek Dalzell (1x3, R, RBI) and sophomore Jeff Schaffert (1x4, R, RBI) also had hits for the Gents.
Texas College went up 3-0 in the first inning after Centenary gave up two walks and two errors. Though, the offense wouldn't allow the Steers to hang onto a lead as they managed to plate four runs in the latter half of the inning.
The Gents had just one hit in the inning when Todd singled to third base, however it was the patient eye at the plate that led to Centenary regaining the lead on one walk and three hit batsmen.
Sophomore right-hander David Perez (2.0,0,0,0,0,1) pitched the first two innings out of relief and was able to shut the Steers down, allowing no runs on no hits with one strikeout.
Centenary was able to add two more runs in second when Shepard and Tompkins had back-to-back RBI-singles. Junior southpaw Dakota Robinson (2.0,1,0,0,0,5) would come throw the third and fourth frames, allowing no runs on one hit, while fanning five.
Again, the Gents would continue to build on its lead with three more runs in the third and one in the fourth and fifth for an 11-3 lead when Schaffert, Dalzell, and Creamer each had an RBI-single, while Ross bounced a double off the left center wall, before later scoring on a Texas College balk.
Junior right-hander David Benson (2.0,1,0,0,0,2) earned the win, improving to 2-2 on the season after tossing two complete innings of relief, allowing no runs on one hit with two strikeouts.
Righty Justin Kraft (1.0,0,0,0,0,2) pitched the final inning with two strikeouts, before the games was shortened in seven innings. Junior lefty Stephen Tromblee (0.0,0,3,1,3,0) got the start, but left with a no-decision.
Centenary will return to play when it travels to Big 12 Texas A&M on Tuesday evening for a 6:35 pm contest.
