SHERMAN, Texas – The Diamond Gents combined to score 19 runs in the first innings of both games and scored 34 runs on the day as Centenary (10-10-1, 2-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) pulled back to .500 overall with a doubleheader sweep of Austin College (4-8, 0-2 SCAC) Saturday afternoon, March 16. The Diamond Gents scored nine runs en route to a 14-7 win in game one, while it scored 10 in the opening frame of game two and won 20-5 in seven innings.
The Gents exploded for nine runs in the first inning of game one and rolled to a seven-run win. After two hit-by-pitches and a single by junior Cody Crowder loaded the bases, sophomore Preston Ludwick cleared the bases with a triple. Senior Cameron Guin followed with an RBI single as the Diamond Gents scored four before an out had been recorded.
With one out and a runner at second, freshman Brandon Griffin reached on a bunt single to put runners on the corners. After another hit by pitch loaded the bases and a wild pitch scored another run. Senior Andrew Russell drove in a pair and later scored on a sophomore Peyton Cormane single and an Austin College error. A sacrifice fly by Crowder scored the ninth and final run of the opening frame.
After a single tally in the fourth, senior Charlie Allbritton added an RBI triple in the sixth and scored on a wild pitch. Freshman Shane Salzman and Cormane added RBI singles in the eighth for the final Centenary runs.
Every hitter in the Centenary starting lineup recorded a hit, led by Cormane and sophomore Chris Haggard who each had a pair of hits and an RBI, while Cormane scored twice and Haggard once.
Meanwhile, freshman Josh McLean (1-1) entered in the first inning in relief for his first collegiate win. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing four hits and three runs (one earned).
Austin College scored a pair in the bottom of the first despite no hits. After a pair of hit by pitches, an error scored a run and moved a pair into scoring position. McLean came into the game with one out and allowed a second run to score on a balk, but a foul out and ground out ended the inning.
Brett Taff paced Austin College with two hits and three runs scored. Collin Maynard (1-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs and four hits in 0.1 innings of work.
Centenary put its foot on the gas and never let up again in game two, scoring 10 runs in the top of the first. Cormane led off the game with a double and scored on Crowder's second home run of the season. The Gents loaded the bases after a pair were plunked and freshman Jake Ryan singled. A groundout scored the third run of the inning before a wild pitch plated another run.
Another groundout moved a runner to third with two down, but Centenary scored six more on key two-out hitting. Salzman singled in the fifth run before a walk and a pair of wild pitches scored another run. A walk put runners on the corners before Crowder added a single for his third RBI of the inning. Haggard added an RBI double, while Ludwick capped the inning with a two-RBI single.
Haggard led Centenary offensively with a single, two doubles, and a triple in four at-bats, adding four runs scored and four RBIs in game two. For the second-straight game, every starter in the line-up recorded a hit.
Freshman Will Kappler (2-0) picked up the win, allowing six hits and three runs in five innings pitched.
Taff again led the 'Roos, adding a bases loaded, two-RBI single in the fifth and a two-RBI double in the seventh. He finished the game with two hits and four RBIs. Christian Thomas (0-1) took the loss, allowing four hits and eight runs in 0.2 innings pitched.
Centenary finishes the series with Austin College Sunday afternoon, March 17, at 1 p.m. With a win, it will be the fourth-straight year the Diamond Gents begin conference play with a series sweep.