SHREVEPORT-The Centenary baseball team will travel to Clarksville, Tennessee for the Governors' Classic hosted by Austin Peay this weekend. The Gents will take on Georgia State on Friday at 6:30 pm and on Saturday at 4:30 pm, before playing Austin Peay on Sunday in a double-header beginning at Noon. All game action can be viewed through live stats by clicking this link, Live Stats.
The Gents (6-6) are coming off a postponed game with Texas A&M that was scheduled for Thursday, but has been rescheduled on May 12. Centenary's last contest was in an 11-3 win last week over Texas College where the Gents posted seven hits, led by freshman Matt Creamer and senior Michael Tompkins with a 1x3 effort and two RBI.
Junior righty David Benson (2-2) picked up in the win in relief after tossing 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs, while fanning two.
Centenary is led offensively by senior Cliff Shepard with a solid .413 clip and a team-best 19 hits, five doubles, 15 RBI, and a .696 on-base percentage. Junior Keegan Acker is also posting strong offensive numbers with a .324 average and a team-high 14 walks as the leadoff hitter, while Tompkins is consistent with a .302 mark at the plate.
Right-hander Boone Whiting owns a team-low 1.06 ERA among the starters and has thrown 17.0 innings, allowing just two earned run with a team-best 22 strikeouts. Starters David Benson and Justin Kraft are also throwing well with a 2.00 ERA and 3.86 ERA, respectively.
Dakota Robinson has been solid out of the pen all season with a team-best eight game appearances. The southpaw holds a 0.69 ERA through 13.0 innings pitched, having allowed just one earned run with 15 strikeouts. Sophomore David Perez has tossed 2.2 innings and hasn't given up a hit or run in relief.
Georgia State of the Colonial Athletic Association Conference enters Friday's contest with a record of 8-8 and is coming off a 3-2 to Kennesaw State on Wednesday. The Panthers are 2-6 on the road this season, but bolster a solid offensive lineup as seven players are hitting over the .400 mark. Joey Wood leads the way with a .523 average. Charley Olsen has seen the most innings with 27.2 and owns a 1-2 record and a 2.60 ERA.
Austin Peay of the Ohio Valley Conference will meet Centenary on Sunday after playing host to Georgia State on Saturday. The Governors are coming off a 15-11 loss to Evansville on Tuesday. Austin Peay holds a 9-7 overall record and 8-2 mark at home. Trey Lucas leads the Governor offense with a .393 clip and team-best 24 hits, while Ricky Marshall owns a 3.60 ERA and a 3-1 record on the mound.
Centenary will return home to host Binghamton on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 at Shehee Stadium.
