SHREVEPORT, La. - Despite the steady rain falling all day, the Gents offense failed to cool off as they scored 31 runs as Centenary (13-3) took game one 19-2 and beat Northland College (0-2) 12-2 in a pair of run-ruled, seven-inning games Sunday, March 5.
Through six home games thus far and 35 offensive innings, Centenary has scored 111 runs (3.2 runs per inning).
Game one started easy enough when junior Ian Graham was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. However, Centenary exploded for 17 runs in the bottom of the third - believed to be the most runs scored in a single frame by the Gents in team history. Senior Michael Schimpf walked and scored on junior Chris Zapata's home run down the left field line. A walk and error, the first of five in the inning for the Lumberjacks, put a pair of runners on base. A wild pitch scored junior Ian Graham, and sophomore Andrew Russell's RBI single plated the fourth run.
The inning continued when a sacrifice bunt and then a sacrifice fly by senior Aaron Quintanilla scored the fifth run, but that was when all the fun began. Freshman Cody Crowder and Zapata hit RBI singles. Lavergne scored a run when he walked with the bases loaded, Russell drove in his second and third run of the inning on a single, and sophomore Cameron Guin plated a pair on a double. An error and single by Quintanilla plated another run and Crowder added a two-RBI triple. Two errors plated two runs, and Graham had an RBI single, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.
In the half inning, Centenary scored 17 runs on nine hits and five errors.
Everyone in the starting lineup for Centenary scored at least one run in the game, while Crowder was a home run short of the cycle and went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI's. Schimpf scored three runs on three walks in the contest.
Not to be overshadowed by the offense, junior Kaleb Kirk (3-1) allowed only two hits in five innings of work on 78 pitches (49 strikes). He struck out five and only walked one.
Northland's lone runs came in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Zach Ditzenberger hit a home run down the left field line with a runner on base. Carson Ferry (0-1) took the loss for the Lumberjacks, allowing 11 runs (four earned) and six hits with eight walks and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.
The Gents scored their 19th run in the bottom of the fifth when junior Nicholas Delaneuville drove in a run on a bases loaded fielder's choice.
Game two went from a pitcher's duel to an offensive onslaught by the Gents in the sixth and seventh innings. Centenary took advantage of 11 Northland miscues, including scoring a pair of unearned runs in the first. Quintanilla reached on a one-out error, and after a flyout and a walk, he scored on Zapata's infield hit. However, the third baseman threw wildly to first in an attempt to get Zapata to allow Schimpf to score.
Northland scored its own unearned run in the second to cut the deficit in half. With a man on, Sam Lehman hit a double to the gap. Wilkinson hit Quintanilla, who fired home in an attempt to get the runner trying to score. Initially ruled out, Luis Victoria was given home plate when the umpire saw the catcher had dropped the ball.
Crowder pushed the lead back to two with his second sacrifice fly of the season in the fourth.
Centenary erupted for nine runs in the final two innings to win another run-shortened game. In the sixth, five errors and four hits, including a blast from Zapata over the high wall in centerfield for his Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference-leading fourth home run of the season, put Centenary up 8-1.
The Lumberjacks scored one in the seventh thanks to an Anthony Corrado triple and a sacrifice fly by John Aguirre, but four runs all scored with two outs in the run-ruled game. With two down, Wilkinson walked, stole second, and scored when Quintanilla reached on an error. He stole second and scored on Crowder's RBI single. A walk and Zapata single scored the third run, and a fielding error allowed the final run to score in the game and push the lead to 10.
Both Zapata and Graham had three hits for the game to lead the Gents, including a run scored and four RBI's for Zapata. Sophomore Matthew Devillier (4-0), who now leads the SCAC in wins, allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out six in 6.2 innings of work.
Jake Morris (0-1) took the loss for the Lumberjacks, allowing eight hits and eight runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings of work.
Centenary steps into SCAC play Friday and Saturday, March 10-11, when it visits Austin College for a three-game series. First pitch Friday night is scheduled for 7 p.m.
