FARGO, ND-The Centenary baseball team dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker at North Dakota State on Friday in Summit League action when the Bison connected on a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth for the win.
The Gents fell to 6-23 overall and 3-10 in Summit League play, while NDSU improved to 13-20 and 9-4 in league action.
Centenary used solid pitching from freshman starter Nic Parrott (6.2,8,4,4,5,3) and made several impressive defensive plays to hold the Bison in check for most of the afternoon contest.
Parrott pitched 6.2 innings of work, allowed four runs on eight hits and five walks with three strikeouts, but left the game when the Gents led, 5-4, receiving a no decision.
NDSU plated a run in the first inning on a solo shot by leadoff hitter, Zach Wentz, but Centenary would quickly make its offensive run with four runs in the top of the second.
Junior Jeff Schaffert opened the frame with a single, followed by a double down the right field line by freshman Tyler Neporadny. With two on, freshman Marc Martinez' single to left field plated one, while an error scored Neporadny for a 2-1 lead. With two outs, Centenary continued to build on its lead when sophomore Matt Creamer and freshman RJ Talamantes' each picked up RBI-singles, plating freshman Mark Gillean who was hit by a pitch and Martinez.
The Bison made it a 4-3 game in the latter half of the inning on three hits, but Parrott and defense shut NDSU's attack down for the next four frames. Centenary extended its lead to 5-3 in the fourth. Freshman Pete Rajkovich singled up the middle, was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Dan Lazarou and later scored on a single by Gillean.
A walk and a double in the seventh allowed NDSU to begin chipping away at Centenary's lead. It was followed up by a two-run home run in the eighth that hit the left field foul pole with winds blowing 40 mph to left field. The two-run shot proved to be the game winner.
Unfortunately, sophomore Kelby Langston (1.1,1,2,1,0,3) would suffer the loss, after allowing the two-run home run. The righty pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run on one hits and three strikeouts. He would fall to 0-3 on the year.
Centenary outhit NDSU, 11-9 as four Gents recorded multi-hit games. Creamer (2x5, RBI), Talamantes (2x5, RBI), Martinez (2x4, R, RBI) and Rajkovich (2x4, R) each had two hits on the day. Gillean (1x3, R, RBI), Schaffert (1x4, R) and Neporadny (1x4, R) each added a base knock.
NDSU's Colby Tognetti (.8.0,10,5,5,1,5) earned the win after giving up five runs on 10 hits in 8.0 innings. Jason Mattila (1.0,1,0,0,0,1) picked up the save.
Centenary and NDSU will return to action on Saturday with a double-header slated to begin at 1 pm. Live stats and video are available at www.gobison.com.
