April 22, 2017

#6 Gents Split Doubleheader in Final Home Games of 2017

SHREVEPORT, La. - The Gents used fortuitous bounces, key errors, and a broken glove to win game one, 8-3, but the Wildcats took advantage of those same bounces in game two as Centenary (30-7) lost game two to Louisiana College (19-16) 5-4 in the final home games at Shehee Stadium in 2017.

It all started in the first inning with the bases empty and two outs of game one. Freshman Cody Crowder singled down the leftfield line and senior Michael Schimpf legged out an infield single. After a balk moved both runners into scoring position, junior Chris Zapata lined a ball to centerfield. The fielder had the ball in his tracks, but the ball popped out of a broken glove. With the hit, Zapata drove in a pair of runs to give Centenary a 2-0 lead and hit 60 RBI's for the season.

Schimpf finished the game with three hits in as many at-bats with one run scored and a sacrifice fly. Crowder went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI's.

Louisiana College tied the game with single tallies in the third and fourth, but a key error put the Gents up for good. With one out, Lavergne and sophomore Cameron Guin singled and moved into scoring position on a groundout. Freshman Zane Wilkinson grounded to short, but the shortstop bobbled the ball and then bounced the throw to first as both Guin and Lavergne crossed the plate.

After starter Kaleb Kirk (8-3) gave up a run in the top of the sixth to the Wildcats to cut the lead to one, Centenary responded with Texas-leaguers and a key error to score four. With one out, junior Ian Graham singled through the left side. Wilkinson grounded a ball to third and legged out a single, while senior Aaron Quintanilla grounded to his counterpart on the diamond for a hit to load the bases. Crowder followed with a two-RBI single.

On a double steal attempt, the catcher threw the ball away to allow Quintanilla to score and Crowder to move up to third. Schimpf capped the scoring in the game on a sacrifice fly.

Kirk picked up his eighth win of the season, allowing five hits and three runs with two walks. With one strikeout, every other out in the game (20 in all) came via the groundout.

Louisiana College scored one in the third, fourth, and sixth, but never took the lead in the first game. In the third, Sully Martin tripled to centerfield and scored on Ashton Martin's groundout. In the fourth, Kiefer Moore hit an infield single, stole second, moved to third on Steven Pizano's single, and scored on a squeeze play to tie the game.

With the Gents up two in the top of the sixth, a walk, single, and sacrifice bunt put the tying runs into scoring position with one out. An RBI groundout by Deauton Delgado cut the lead in half, but a groundout ended the Wildcats' threat before the Maroon and White answered with four in the bottom of the sixth.

Despite being hitless in two at-bats, Delgado led the Wildcats with two RBI's. Austin Thompson (2-4) took the complete-game loss, allowing 13 hits and eight runs (five earned) in eight innings of work.

Game two saw Centenary take an early 1-0 lead, but a two-run home run gave the Wildcats the lead the Gents never got back. In the first, Quintanilla doubled and scored on Schimpf's two-out hit. However, the Wildcats took the lead when with two outs, Pizano doubled and scored on Delgado's two-run home run to right center, his fifth round-tripper of the season.

Centenary tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Wilkinson in the third, but Louisiana College scored two in the sixth to take the lead for good in the game. The Gents scored one in the bottom of the sixth when Wilkinson hit an infield single, moved to second on a throwing error, advanced to third when Quintanilla hit a small bloop to shallow right, and scored on Schimpf's two-out hit. However, for the second time in the game, he was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double.

After the visitors scored one in the seventh to go up 5-3, Centenary used two-out lightning to pull within one and put the tying run 90 feet from home. Wilkinson hit a seeing-eye single through the left side and Quintanilla added an RBI triple, but a flyout ended the Gents threat.

Wilkinson finished the second game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Jackie Allen (4-4) took the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs in 5.1 innings pitched.

Tied at two, Louisiana College scored two in the sixth and an insurance run in the seventh. In the sixth, Duncan Cornfoot doubled down the leftfield line and was lifted for a pinch runner. After a groundout, Delgado put the Wildcats up with a single. A double by Zane Corbell chased Allen from the game with a pair in scoring position. Junior Cole Lavergne took the mound, but a walk and a hit-by-pitch pushed another run across. However, Lavergne got a strikeout and flyout to end the Louisiana College threat.

After Centenary pulled within one, Louisiana College used Texas-leaguers to push the deficit back up to two. Moore topped one to the left of the mound that Lavergne made a nice play on, but the runner just beat out the throw. With one out, he stole second and Pizano reached on an infield single to the left side. Delgado snuck one up the middle to plate the fifth Louisiana College run of the game.

Delgado and Pizano both went 3-for-4 from the plate for the Wildcats, but Delgado added four RBI's and two runs scored. Andrew Robinson (3-0) picked up the win in game two, throwing the middle three innings and allowing three hits and one earned run. Evan Mativi pitched the final 1.1 innings for his third save of the season.

In Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference action Friday night, Southwestern beat Texas Lutheran to clinch the fourth seed and the final tournament spot. Centenary will open up with Southwestern on Friday afternoon, while Texas Lutheran will play Trinity in the nightcap.

Centenary travels to Pineville Saturday, April 22, for two seven-inning games at Louisiana College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.