GEORGETOWN, Texas – The Diamond Gents entered the day knowing it needed a win to capture the third seed in the upcoming Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, and they held on for a 9-7 win against the Pirates in game on to do just that. However, Centenary (18-21-1, 10-8 SCAC) fell in the final game to Southwestern (23-17, 10-8 SCAC) 16-2 Saturday afternoon, April 27.
Trailing 6-5 in the eighth of game one, Centenary scored four runs to take the lead for good. Tyler Erickson began the inning with a single and moved to third on Andrew Russell's hit. Chris Haggard followed with an RBI infield single to tie the game. Cody Crowder walked to load the bases before Preston Ludwick walked to score the go-ahead run. Lucas Stetter then drew a bases loaded walk for the RBI. Brandon Griffin added a sacrifice fly as Centenary opened up a 9-6 lead.
Southwestern climbed within 9-7 in the ninth when Hayden Craig hit a solo home run, but Connor Cudd finished the game by getting the final two outs.
Crowder led Centenary with one hit in as many at-bats with four walked, three runs scored, and an RBI. Brock Yates (2-2) picked up the win in relief with 1.1 scoreless innings.
Tied at two, Centenary used two-out lightning in the fourth to regain the lead. With one on and two out, Crowder walked and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Preston Ludwick followed with a two RBI single. He stole second and scored on an error as Centenary took a 5-2 lead.
Southwestern used two-out hitting of their own to go up 6-5 after six. With one on base and two outs, Seth Sparks doubled in a run before scoring himself when Chase Thinger singled.
Kevin Stein and Craig led Southwestern with a pair of hits and runs scored. Thinger added three hits and three RBIs. Koba Kobayashi (0-1) picked up the loss for the Pirates, allowing three hits and three runs in 3.1 innings of relief.
In game two, Southwestern scored 12 in the first and never looked back in the 16-2 win. Centenary scored its lone runs when Charlie Allbritton hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Erickson drove in a run with a groundout.
Daniel Montgomery led Southwestern with three hits and two RBIs and two runs scored. Colton Hunter (5-2) picked up the win, allowing five hits and one run in five innings of work. Matt Parker took the loss, allowing two hits and four runs in just a third of an inning.
Centenary will return to action Friday, May 3, in the first round of the SCAC Tournament. The Gents will either take on Trinity or Texas Lutheran.