Shreveport– The Centenary baseball team opened its 2021 regular season with a decisive 6-1 win on Tuesday afternoon over the Louisiana College Wildcats at Shehee Stadium.
The Gents (1-0) won their ninth-straight home opener and won for the fourth time in their last five home games. The Wildcats dropped to 3-2 with Tuesday's loss. Centenary was playing its first game since March 1, 2020 as COVID-19 limited the season to just 13 games.
Centenary got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning with two outs to take a 2-0 lead. Senior third baseman Chris Haggard (Lake Charles, La.) struck out to begin the inning against Brooks Southall, who came into relive starter Andrew Robinson at the start of the inning, who then walked senior outfielder Cody Crowder (Shepherd, Texas). Senior first baseman Preston Ludwick (Pflugerville, Texas) flew out to right field for the second out, but then junior catcher Ben Bridges (Beckville, Texas) walked to put runners at first and second. Senior second baseman Tyler Erickson (Houston, Texas) then singled to right to score Crowder and then Bridges scored and Erickson advanced to third on an error by the Wildcats' right fielder Christian Vandergrift. Southall then got senior Tyler Welch (Alexandria, La.) on a groundout to end the inning.
The Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, getting a run to cut the Gents' lead in half at 2-1. Austin Warner came on in relief of Jacob Colby as the Gents' fifth pitcher of the afternoon to start the top half of the frame and walked the first batter he faced, shortstop Keelyn Johnson. He was immediately replaced with sophomore Parker Primeaux (Lake Charles, La.) who promptly allowed a single to designated hitter Dane Pedersen, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Primeaux then struck out Brayden Corley for the first out but walked Ty Morgan to load the bases. Left fielder Clint Stephens reached on an infield single scoring Johnson to tie the game. Primeaux, though, got second baseman Nick Moreau on a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat and the inning and keep the game tied.
The Gents then put the game away with a four-run bottom of the seventh. Crowder delivered an RBI double, Ludwick singled home Crowder, Bridges scored on an error, and Erickson ripped a triple to left center for the Gents' sixth and final run. Centenary used eight pitchers in the game with senior Conner Poche (Lutcher, La.), Centenary's second pitcher of the afternoon, picking up the win as he pitched two innings and allowed no runs on one hit and struck out three. Senior Connor Lee (Sugarland, Texas) started the game and went an inning and recorded a strikeout. The Wildcats used six pitchers with Southall taking the loss to drop to 0-1 on the season.
Centenary finished with 12 hits while the Wildcats mustered just five and hurt themselves with four errors. Louisiana College also hit into six double plays. Gents pitchers combined for eight strikeouts with just three walks and each team left seven men on base. Five Centenary players (Erickson, Haggard, Ludwick, senior Luke Royle (Dodge City, Kan.), and Welch) each collected two hits apiece. Crowder went 1-3 with an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored. Pedersen went 2-4 to lead the Wildcats' offense.
The Gents remain at home this week as they face the ETBU Tigers on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. The Gents open SCAC play on Friday, March 19 at Austin College. The 2021 SCAC Baseball Tournament will be held May 7-9 at The Depot at Cleburne Station.
Live stats and live video are available for all home contests.
A link to the Gents' complete 2021 schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/bsb/2020-21/schedule
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