Pitching Rules Day as Diamond Gents Split Doubleheader with UT Tyler

SHREVEPORT, La. - Senior Kaleb Kirk tossed a complete-game shutout in game one as the Gents won 2-0, but a late rally in game two by the Patriots gave the visitors the win in game two as Centenary (15-9) fell to UT Tyler (17-9) 3-2 in the series finale at Shehee Stadium Friday afternoon, March 30.

The Diamond Gents provided Kirk (5-1) all the offensive needed with a pair of runs in the fourth of game one. Freshman Peyton Cormane reached on a sharp grounder to first. UT Tyler was playing in and the first baseman could not handle the hop cleanly, and Cormane beat the pitcher to the bag for the infield hit. After a pair of outs, senior Ian Graham jumped on the first pitch he saw for a single to right. Cody Crowder drove the 1-1 pitch to the right center gap, just past the dive of the Patriots right fielder, to empty the bases and give the Gents a 2-0 lead.

In the first and third, the Patriots advanced runners into scoring position, but could not push a run across. In the first, Josh Burns hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a groundout deflected by Kirk, but a pop out to shallow center field ended the threat. Zach Pavelock led off the third with a double and advanced to third on a flyout, but Kirk recorded the swinging strikeout to retire the side.

Kirk surrendered singles in the four, sixth, and seventh, but no Patriots advanced past first. Kirk allowed five hits and just one walk while striking out eight. He now has 28 career wins, which is tied for the sixth-most wictories in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history.

Ryan Cheatham (3-4) took the complete game loss for UT Tyler, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out five in six innings of work.

After UT Tyler took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first of game two, Centenary scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. Cormane led off the game with a single and stole second. Junior Cameron Guin followed with a single up the middle to quickly tie the game. With the hit and run on, senior Chris Zapata singled to right field to put runners on the corners with no outs. Graham followed with a comebacker to the mound, but the pitcher looked Guin back to third and the throw to first was late to load the bases. Crowder added an RBI groundout to put the Gents in front, but a strikeout and flyout limited the damage.

Junior Matthew Devillier helped keep UT Tyler off the scoreboard with huge strikeouts in the fifth and seventh. In the fifth, a pair of singles put runners on the corners with one out. However, Devillier punched out Graham Welch looking and got a foul pop up ended the threat. In the seventh after a two-out double and stolen base, Devillier got Sanchez looking to end the threat.

Devillier finished the game allowing six hits and two runs with one out while striking out three.

UT Tyler scored a pair in the eighth to take the lead for good. With one out and a runner at second, Bowie Farris skied the 0-1 pitch to right field. It fell in no-man's land, tight to the line, to put runners on the corners. Blake Maddox tied the game on a sacrifice fly while Farris took second on the throw home. That advance proved costly as Alex Bishop singled in the go-ahead run.

Senior Cole Lavergne (2-2) took the loss in relief, allowing two hits while striking out three in three innings of work. Alexander Masotto (2-1) picked up the win for UT Tyler in relief, allowing only a two-out double in the ninth for the win.

Centenary returns to action for its first SCAC home game next Friday night, April 6, against Southwestern. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.