SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Gents held on to take game one, 7-5, as sophomore Matthew Devillier picked up his Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference-leading eighth win, but the Maroon and White fell in game two as Centenary (24-5, 10-2 SCAC) lost 15-5 in seven innings in the weekend finale at Trinity (14-12, 4-5 SCAC) Saturday afternoon, April 1.
Game one saw the Gents jump out to a 4-0 lead and never look back. After Trinity cut the lead to 4-3 in the fourth, Centenary responded with key two-out hitting. Despite runners on the corners with no outs in the frame, the Gents struck out twice and looked as if they would score no runs. However, junior Cole Lavergne doubled to left field to score a run and put a pair in scoring position. Sophomore Andrew Russell followed with a two-RBI single to centerfield to put Centenary up 7-3.
Devillier (8-0) allowed a pair of solo home runs in the fifth, but neither team scored the final four innings. Devillier picked up the win, allowing five runs (two earned) with nine hits and eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.
Lavergne picked up his fifth save of the season, coming in the game with two on and two out in the eighth. He was perfect in 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
Freshman Cody Crowder went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI to lead Centenary. Junior Ian Graham added two hits and two RBI's in five at-bats.
After a sacrifice fly by Crowder in the first, the Maroon and White struck for three more in the third. With two outs and the bases empty, senior Aaron Quintanilla walked, Crowder singled, and senior Michael Schimpf walked to load the bases. Junior Chris Zapata drew an RBI walk, and Graham followed with a two-RBI single to left.
The only offense for Trinity came with a three-run home run by George Haaland in the fourth and solo shots by Jake Martin and Blake Frampton in the fifth. Matthew Thomas (0-1) took the loss for the Tigers, allowing three hits and four runs with three walks in two innings of work.
In game two after Trinity scored a pair in the first, Centenary answered back with three runs in the second. Zapata reached on an error to begin the frame and advanced to second when Lavergne drew a one-out walk. Russell cut the deficit in half with an RBI double and freshman Zane Wilkinson gave the Gents the lead with a two-RBI single.
The Maroon and White scored its fourth run when Zapata doubled, moved to third on a bunt single, and scored on a ground ball. Quintanilla capped the Centenary scoring with a solo home run in the seventh.
Russell led the Gents from the plate in game two with three hits in as many at-bats with a run scored and an RBI. Junior Jackie Allen (3-3) took the loss, allowing six hits and five runs in 2.2 innings pitched.
Trinity put three innings of four runs together as the Tigers won the run-shortened game two. Down 3-2 in the third with one on and two out, Michael Goodrich walked and Haaland singled in a run to tie the game. However, a throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to score and move Haaland to second. Zachary Ortesky and Scott Walters' RBI singles put the home team up 6-3.
Goodrich added a grand slam in the sixth inning.
Martin went 3-for-5 from the plate for the Tigers with three runs scored, while Goodrich went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBI's. Kevin Flores picked up the win for Trinity, allowing seven hits and five runs (two earned) in six innings of work.
Centenary returns to action next Friday and Saturday, April 7-8, for its final home conference series of the season. The Gents battle Texas Lutheran for first place in the SCAC, as both teams sit 10-2 in the conference.
