SHREVEPORT, La. - The Gents used a 5-run first to take game one, 6-3, but #8 Centenary (22-3, 8-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) exploded for seven runs in the third inning of game two en route to a 10-0, seven-inning win in the nightcap against Dallas (8-17, 2-6 SCAC) Saturday afternoon, March 25.
Seniors Michael Schimpf and Aaron Quintanilla tied the Gents career record for triples (eight) in game two. With two down and a runner at third in the second, Schimpf blooped a pitch to right field that got down and rolled into foul territory to score a run and give him the three-bagger. Quintanilla drove in the sixth run of a seven-run third with a triple to right field to tie the record also.
Sophomore Matthew Devillier (7-0) threw the complete game shutout, allowing only five hits while striking out four. Devillier allowed no Dallas player past second base in the game.
Holding a 2-0 lead after two, Centenary exploded for seven runs in the third. Schimpf walked and scored on junior Chris Zapata's double to right field. Junior Ian Graham walked and Zapata touched home on junior Cole Lavergne's single. With a pair on, sophomore Andrew Russell laid a bunt single down between the third-base line and the pitcher. However, the third baseman threw to first with no one covering as the ball trickled up the first base line. Russell motored to third, while Graham and Lavergne scored to put the Gents up 6-0.
Still with no outs, sophomore Cameron Guin grounded to third. However, the Crusaders decided to throw home and Russell beat the tag for the fifth run of the inning. After a caught stealing, freshman Zane Wilkinson singled and scored on Quintanilla's triple. Freshman Cody Crowder capped the inning with an RBI single as the Gents opened up a 9-0 lead after three.
Lavergne added his second sacrifice fly of the season in the sixth, and Devillier closed out Dallas in the seventh for the 10-0 Maroon and White win. Wilkinson led Centenary from the plate by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Zapata added two doubles and now sits eighth in the career annals in two-baggers with 32.
Conrad Voss (2-4) took the loss for Dallas, allowing eight hits and seven runs and three walks in 2+ innings pitched.
After Dallas scored in the first on a Seth Hanson RBI double in game one, the Gents answered with five of their own after a key error. Wilkinson reached on an error and swiped second. Quintanilla topped one back to the pitcher that went under his glove to put two on base. Crowder walked to load the bases, and Schimpf's sacrifice fly tied the game and moved Quintanilla to third. Crowder was moving on a wild pitch for a stolen base, and Quintanilla scored to put the Gents up one. Zapata walked while a double steal put a pair in scoring position. Graham followed with a two-RBI single, advanced to second on an error, stole third, and scored on Lavergne's sacrifice bunt.
Schimpf and Russell both went 2-for-3, while Schimpf added an RBI and run scored in game one.
Junior Kaleb Kirk (6-1) allowed six hits and three runs while striking out three in six innings of work. Sophomore Hunter Amedee allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out two in the final three innings for his first save of the season.
After Hanson added an RBI single in the third for Dallas, the visitors scored one more in the sixth and threatened to get closer. With the first two retired, Nathan Patton and Brice Cell singled. After a wild pitch, Zach San Roman singled in the third Dallas run. However, Kirk battled back from a 3-1 count to get a flyout to end the Crusader's threat.
Ryan Hammonds (1-4) took the loss for Dallas, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned) in six innings of work.
Centenary returns to action Sunday, March 26, when it takes on Dallas in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
