LOS ANGELES, Calif. - It was getaway day in California for Gents baseball, and what a day it was.
The Gents capitalized on 16 hits and six walks to score 11 runs, while they only gave up a solo home run to the Tigers as #24 Centenary (3-1) blasted #21 Occidental (0-1) 11-1 Sunday afternoon, February 5.
With the Gents leading 6-1 heading into the eighth, the Gents ended the game an inning early thanks to a five-spot in the frame. With one out, senior Aaron Quintanilla walked and junior Chris Zapata singled. Senior Michael Schimpf singled to drive in a run, but an error moved both runners into scoring position.
Despite Occidental committing five errors on the day, 10-of-11 runs by Centenary were earned.
Freshman Cody Crowder plated a pair with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Ian Graham doubled to score Crowder, and scored himself on sophomore Andrew Russell's two-out single.
Junior Jackie Allen, who threw the final 2.1 innings in relief, gave up a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth. However, two strikeouts and a groundout finished the game as the Maroon and White run-ruled the Tigers.
While the Gents were slowly building up a 6-1 lead after 5.5 innings, it was senior Grant Debevec who turned in a solid game from the mound. Debevec only allowed a solo home run and three other hits while striking out nine in 5.2 innings of work. He also pitched out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the third, when a strikeout and groundout ended the frame.
Bryan Smith for Occidental had a hit in all three at-bats, including the home run, but the rest of the Tigers lineup went 1-for-24 on the day.
While Centenary did not score after loading the bases in the first, it slowly built up the 6-1 lead after six innings. In the second with one out, Russell swiped second and scored on freshman Zane Wilkinson's double. Quintanilla followed with an RBI double of his own.
Centenary hit five doubles in the game, including two each from Quintanilla and Wilkinson.
The only Gents unearned run came in the third when Schimpf reached on an error to begin the frame. The next two batters struck out, but a walk and a Russell single put the visitors up 3-0.
Russell led a quintet of hitters with multiple hits on the day for Centenary, adding two RBI's and a run scored. Wilkinson, Quintanilla, and Schimpf all had two hits and two runs scored, while Quintanilla added two RBI's. Crowder had one hit in four at-bats, but led the team with three RBI's.
A sacrifice fly by Russell in the fifth and Crowder in the sixth, coupled with a Quintanilla RBI double, put Centenary up 6-1 after six innings.
Centenary returns to action next Friday, February 10, at East Texas Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
