SHREVEPORT, La. – After a tough loss on Friday night, the Gents knew they would have to turn in a great Saturday to win their eighth-straight home Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. It took a pair of comebacks, but Centenary (12-12-1, 4-2 SCAC) took game one, 11-5, before a walkoff home run in game two dropped Dallas (12-11, 1-5 SCAC) 12-10 in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 23.
Trailing 10-8 in the bottom of the eighth in game two, a sacrifice fly and a key two-out hit tied the game. With one out, sophomores Preston Ludwick and Tyler Welch singled to put the tying runs on base. Senior Cameron Guin cut the deficit to one with a sacrifice fly. Freshman John Beaudion came in as a pinch hitter and provided the game-tying hit.
In the bottom of the ninth, freshman Shane Salzman singled to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second. However, the sacrifice was not needed as sophomore Chris Haggard blasted a pitch over the fence in left field to for his first home run of the season – the only Gents lead for the game.
Sophomore Connor Cudd (4-2), who picked up the win in game one, tallied the win in the second game by allowing just two hits in the final two innings. Sophomore Preston Ludwick finished with a hit in all five at-bats with two RBIs and a run scored. Haggard finished with three hits, three runs scored, and three RBIs.
Dallas jumped out to 4-0 and 5-1 leads, but Centenary scored three in the fourth and two in the fifth to tie the game at six. In the fourth with two outs and no one on base, senior Andrew Russell walked, stole second, and scored on Haggard's RBI single. Junior Cody Crowder and Ludwick contributed back-to-back RBI doubles to bring Centenary back within one.
The Crusaders added a run in the top of the fifth, but the Gents tied the game with a pair in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and freshman Brandon Griffin and first, he swiped second and third and scored on a wild pitch. After Salzman walked, he scored the tying run after Russell doubled.
Dallas retook the lead with a three-spot in the top of the sixth. Jessup Scott singled and advanced to second on Mark Peterson's walk. Luke Boylson doubled in the go-ahead run, while Nicolas Hovde tripled in a pair of runners to give the Crusaders a three-run lead.
Scott and Hovde led the Crusaders with three hits each. Kyle Neel (0-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and four runs in 1.1 innings of work.
Game one saw Dallas take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth before Centenary scored four runs. With one out and a pair in scoring position, a wild pitch scored a run and brought the Gents within one. Later, with the bases loaded and two outs, freshman Cory Hinkle reached on an error that allowed a pair of runs to score. A throwing error then allowed senior Charlie Allbritton to score.
Leading 8-5 in the eighth with the bases loaded, Ludwick cleared the bases with a double to left field.
Ludwick led the Gents, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Allbritton added two hits and three runs scored. Cudd threw the final 2.2 innings for the win, allowing just two hits.
Dallas was led offensively by Peterson and Josh Abalos' two hits. Jamie Wallace (3-2) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs in 0.1 innings pitched.
Centenary returns to action Tuesday night, March 26, at LeTourneau. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.