SHREVEPORT, La. - Game two would have been the highest scoring output in program history, except for one problem - the Gents achieved that feat in game one.
The Maroon and White scored a single-game record 28 runs in game one, adding 25 in game two as Centenary (9-3) swept the home-opening doubleheader from Rust (0-10) by scores of 28-1 and 25-2 at Shehee Stadium Thursday, February 23.
The previous high of 24 runs was achieved twice, last at home against Southwestern on March 23, 2013, in a 24-10 win.
Centenary added 35 hits, 17 of which went for extra bases.
Between the two games, senior Aaron Quintanilla hit for the cycle with four hits, three walks, 11 RBI's and five runs scored. Sophomore Cameron Guin added two triples in three at-bats with four runs scored and four RBI's. Senior Michael Schimpf added five hits in six at-bats with six RBI's and five runs scored, while freshman Zane Wilkinson 3-for-5 with five runs scored and two RBI's.
Wilkinson has hit safely in all 12 of the Gents games thus far in 2017.
The Gents jumped out in game one with five runs in the first inning, all starting with a walk to Wilkinson, a stolen base, and an RBI single by freshman Cody Crowder. Crowder stole second and scored on Schimpf's single. Juniors Chris Zapata and Cole Lavergne, with sophomore Andrew Russell, all added RBI doubles to put Centenary up 5-1 after one.
In the second, a leadoff single by Wilkinson, an RBI double by Quintanilla, a hit by pitch, and a Schimpf two-RBI double put the Gents up 8-1. Schimpf later scored in the inning on an error.
Centenary added 15 more runs in the next two innings, including a grand slam by Quintanilla in the fourth. Freshman Bryce Kozeny added an RBI single to score an unearned run in the fifth, while senior Scott Dwyer hit a two-RBI triple and scored when the wild throw went in to the dugout.
Rust took the 1-0 lead in the first when singles by Jordan Robinson, Adonis Golden and Nicholas Durrah loaded the bases with no outs off of sophomore Matthew Devillier. However, Devillier (3-0) held Rust to one run on an RBI groundout and a pair of strikeouts.
Devillier picked up the win, going seven innings and allowing one run while striking out six in three innings of work. William Curtis took the loss for Rust, allowing five runs and five hits in one inning of work.
Both teams stood tied at one in the bottom of the third in game two, but Centenary exploded for nine runs. Quintanilla walked to begin the inning and scored on Crowder's RBI double. Schimpf and Zapata walked to load the bases, and everyone moved up a base on junior Ian Graham's single. Lavergne drove in the third run of the inning on a walk, and Russell drove in the fourth run on a fielder's choice. A passed ball, a two-out RBI single by Wilkinson, Quintanilla's first triple of the year, an RBI single by Schimpf, and Zapata's RBI single put the Gents up 10-1.
After Centenary added four in the fourth, Guin hit a two-RBI triple and scored on a groundout to push the lead to 17-2 after five innings.
The Gents added eight more in the bottom of the sixth for the final 25-2 margin.
Junior Jackie Allen (1-2) threw four innings in the win in game two, allowing four hits and one earned run with four strikeouts in four innings of work. Josh Johnson took the loss for Rust, allowing seven hits and 10 runs in three innings pitched.
Rust scored one run in the second and one in the fifth of game two. Javonte Campbell led off the second with a single and scored on Charles Sturdivant's double. Patrick Crutchfield led off the fifth with a hit by pitch, stole two bases, and scored on Robinson's single.
Centenary returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Rust for another doubleheader on Friday, February 24. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
