Gents Baseball Drops Doubleheader at Texas Lutheran

SEGUIN, Texas - After trailing 7-0 in game one, the Gents brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the seventh. However, the Bulldogs scored four in the bottom of the eighth to secure the 11-5 win. Centenary (18-12, 9-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) then dropped game two to Texas Lutheran (26-7, 8-3) 11-4 Saturday afternoon, April 14.

Down 7-0 after four innings in game one, Centenary scored five unanswered and brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth. In the fifth, junior Andrew Russell singled and scored on senior Cole Lavergne's double. After a single by freshman Preston Ludwick put runners on the corners, a groundout scored the Gents second run of the game.

With two outs in the seventh, freshman Peyton Cormane's double and senior Chris Zapata's RBI single cut the deficit to four.

In the eighth, Centenary scored a pair and brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Senior Ian Graham walked and advanced to second when Lavergne drew a two-out walk. Ludwick singled in another run. Freshman pinch hitter Chris Haggard singled in another run for the Gents, but a fielder's choice ended the threat.

Texas Lutheran added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth for the final six-run margin.

Zapata, Ludwick, and Graham each had three hits in the ballgame with an RBI each for Ludwick and Zapata. Graham added a run scored. Senior Kaleb Kirk (6-2) took the loss, allowing 12 hits and nine runs (six earned) with six strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.

Texas Lutheran scored three in the second and four in the third to take a 7-0 lead. In the second, two leadoff singles and an error on Chad Curtis' sacrifice bunt scored two and moved Curtis all the way to third. Eric Rabinowitz added a sacrifice fly. In the third with two outs and no one on base, a hit batter and a single was followed up by Keaton Boysen's three run shot. Doubles by Curtis and Spencer Brandt put the Bulldogs up seven.

Boysen finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Dylan Drgac (8-1) picked up the win for the Bulldogs, allowing 12 hits and five runs while striking out seven in 7.2 innings of work. Drew Waller threw the final 1.1 innings for his third save of the season.

In game two with Centenary trailing 2-1 in the top of the third, Zapata hit a two-run home run to put the Gents back in front. However, Texas Lutheran responded with three in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good. Riley Schaefer tied the game with a lead-off home run in the third before an error, walk, and a single put the home team in front. Curtis later added a sacrifice fly to cap the three-run inning.

Zapata led Centenary from the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Junior Matthew Devillier (4-3) took the loss, allowing four hits and five runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings of work.

Boysen led the Bulldogs with three hits in as many at-bats with a run scored and an RBI. Nathan Malinovsky (8-1) picked up the win, allowing eight hits, six walks, and four runs while striking out six in seven innings of work.

Centenary and Texas Lutheran conclude the three-game series Sunday afternoon, April 15. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.