SHREVEPORT - After a convincing 14-8 win over Louisiana Tech Tuesday night, the Centenary baseball team aims to start a new winning streak Friday night as struggling East Texas Baptist visits for a three-game American Southwest Conference set starting at 6 p.m.
Lance Nugent gets the nod on the bump for the Gents (11-4), who have won seven of eight. ETBU comes into the weekend's series 4-13, losing five straight and six of its last seven.
In the Gents eight-game span, Nugent recorded a perfect 2-0 mark with a 2.16 earned run average. He threw 16 2/3 innings, scattering 16 hits, allowing only four earned runs. The 6-foot-5 senior hurler held opposing batters to a measly .258 average with 21 strikeouts to just four walks in the eight-game stretch.
Game two's starter is to be determined but head coach Mike Diaz said Cole Thompson will be on the mound for game three.
Thompson will lead a Gents defense that has been as impressive as the offense. Defensively, Centenary is holding batters to a .298 mark at the plate and .263 in the last eight games. Thompson holds a 3.33 ERA and a 2-2 record in 24 1/3 innings pitched with 22 strikeouts.
The Gents offense hasn't struggled in its 7-1 stretch averaging eight runs per game with a .342 team average. Tyler Clakley has knocked in a team-high 10 runs in the stretch, boasting a .400 mark at the plate, second-best on the squad.
Ryan Gasporra has tormented opposing pitchers with 33 total bases in eight games for a 1.065 slugging percentage. He's smacked 14 hits, 10 going for extra bases (four HRs, five doubles, one triple) in 31 at bats with 13 runs.
After the three-game series, the Gents begin a five-game road trip at Grambling, Louisiana College and a rematch against La. Tech.
