TYLER, Texas - Junior Cole Lavergne sailed through the first four innings, but an error and two-out hits helped the Kingsmen score five runs in the fifth as third-seeded Centenary (35-9) fell to second-seeded Cal Lutheran (33-11) 8-2 in the winner's bracket semifinal in the NCAA West Baseball Regional Friday night, May 19.
Cal Lutheran scored five runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, but a key two-out hit scored a pair of Centenary runs in the top of the seventh. With one out, freshman Cody Crowder singled up the middle and senior Scott Dwyer walked on four straight. After a groundball moved both runners into scoring position, sophomore Cameron Guin cleared the bases with a single up the middle.
The Maroon and White banged out eight hits with Dwyer and Guin leading the team with two. Lavergne (4-2) took the loss, allowing seven hits and five runs (two earned).
The Kingsmen erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Cheyenne Giles walked to begin the inning, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Trey Saito's single up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt, a single to right field by Max Weinstein put runners on the corners. Sinjin Todd grounded a double play ball to short, but the flip and bare-handed throw pulled the first baseman off the bag to score Cal Lutheran's second run.
Another miscue continued the inning for the Kingsmen on an error by the second baseman. An RBI single by Jimmy Jauergui and a bases-clearing double by Weston Clark put Cal Lutheran up 5-0. Clark added another two-RBI double in the eighth.
The Kingsmen added another run in the sixth to increase the lead to 6-0.
Nate Wehner (8-3) picked up the win for Cal Lutheran, going nine innings and allowing nine hits and two runs.
Centenary returns to action against fifth-seeded Concordia Saturday afternoon, May 20, in an elimination game. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
