SHREVEPORT-The Centenary baseball team continued its hot hitting and received strong pitching performances to secure a 7-5 series-opening win over North Dakota State on Friday evening in Summit League play.
The Gents improved to 14-14 overall and 4-1 in league play with their fourth straight victory. They used 10 hits including a three-run home run by senior Michael Tompkins to seal the win.
Four players had a multi-hit game for Centenary, led by Tompkins with a 2x4 effort, scoring one run and driving in three. Seniors Tell Ross (2x4, R, 2 RBI) and Cliff Shepard (2x4, 2R) each had two hits, both of which were doubles, while junior Keegan Acker (2x5) also had two knocks. Junior Alex Todd (1x2) and sophomore Jeff Schaffert (1x4, 2 RBI) added a hit.
Junior starter Boone Whiting (7.0,7,4,3,2,8) earned the win, improving to 3-1 on the season, after allowing three earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work.
Classmate Stephen Tromblee (2.0,1,1,0,2,1) tossed the final 2.0 innings in relief to earn his third save of the season, allowing no earned runs on one hit with one strikeout.
Centenary went up 1-0 in the first when Shepard and Ross combined for back-to-back doubles down the right field line.
North Dakota State would tie the game in the second after a one-out triple followed by an RBI-double. However, the Gents wouldn't back down as they plated four runs in the home half of the third to take a 5-1 lead.
Acker opened the inning with a single, but a fielder's choice groundout by junior Scott Pasket forced Acker out at second. Pasket would advance to third on consecutive passed balls, allowing Ross to drive him in on his second double of the game. Senior Jeff Ericson would draw a two-out walk, allowing Tompkins to crank his three-run shot over the right field wall.
The Bison would make it a three-run game on two hits and a run in the fourth.
Shepard would lead off the fifth frame with another double. Ericson would draw his second walk after a fly out. A North Dakota State wild pitch gave Shepard and Ericson and extra base, allowing Schaffert to single home both runners for two more runs.
Centenary was held without a run the rest of the contest, while the Bison would add three more over the final three innings on three hits and an error.
North Dakota State's Kyle Kingsley (3.0,6,5,5,2,2) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in 3.0 innings of work.
Tyler Steen finished the night 3x4 at the plate to lead the Bison.
Centenary and North Dakota State will continue the series on Saturday with a scheduled double-header beginning at 1:00 pm at Shehee Stadium.
