Diamond Gents Capitalize on Redlands Errors in Doubleheader Split

REDLANDS, Calif. - The #8 Diamond Gents turned five Bulldogs' errors into six unearned runs as Centenary (8-5) took game one from Redlands (13-4), 7-5. However, the Bulldogs used a big fifth inning to beat the Gents in the nightcap, 4-2 (eight innings), in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 10, in Redlands, California.

With Centenary trailing 1-0 in game one, a three-run fifth and four more in the sixth opened up a Gents 7-1 lead. In the fifth with one out, senior Cole Lavergne walked and advanced to second on freshman Gage Garber's single. Freshman Peyton Cormane tied the game with a single and moved Garber to third. An error by the third baseman allowed the go ahead runner to score as moved Cormane to third. An RBI groundout gave the Gents a two-run lead.

In the sixth, sophomore Cody Crowder singled before an error moved a pair into scoring position. After freshman Chris Haggard scored another run with a single, Lavergne stepped to the plate with a pair on. However, an error by the pitcher scored all three runs as Centenary took a 7-1 lead.

Freshman Conner Poche picked up his first collegiate win, allowing three hits and an unearned run in five innings of work. Lavergne threw the final two innings for his third save of the season, striking out three with three ground ball outs.

After Redlands answered with an unearned run in the sixth, the Bulldogs scored four in the seventh to cut the deficit to two. Brendan Moore capped the inning with a two-run home run. Felix Minjariz (2-2) took the loss on the mound for Redlands, allowing five hits and seven runs (one earned) in six innings of work.

Game two saw Centenary score in the top of the first, but one in the fourth and three in the fifth by Redlands proved to be the difference. Junior Andrew Russell led off the game with a single and scored on Crowder's double.

Down 4-1 in the seventh, Graham doubled and scored on Haggard's one out single. Haggard moved to second on the throw home and then swiped third. Senior pinch hitter Nicholas Delauneville then singled to second base, but Haggard was thrown out at the plate to end the Gents threat.

Junior Matthew Devillier (1-2) took the loss, allowing 10 hits and four runs (three earned) with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.

Tied at one heading to the bottom of the fifth, Redlands scored a trio of runs to take the lead for good. After two infield singles and an error moved a pair of runners into scoring position, a wild pitch and a Brendan Gardiner double put the home team up 3-1. A single by Moore scored Gardiner and was the final Redlands run.

Adam Stead (3-0) picked up the complete game win for the home team, allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out five in eight innings.

Centenary returns to action Sunday afternoon against the defending National Champions Cal Lutheran. First pitch in Thousand Oakes, California, is set for 3 p.m. (1 p.m. PDT).