Shreveport– The Centenary baseball team recorded a dominating 10-0 victory in eight innings over #16 Trinity University in the opener of a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series on Friday evening at Shehee Stadium.
The Diamond Gents (12-10, 2-2 SCAC) and Tigers (10-7, 3-1 SCAC) will finish the series on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 and 4 p.m. Centenary improved to 7-3 at home this season and the Diamond Gents are now 27-6 in their last 33 home games dating back to the beginning of last season.
Live stats and live video will be available for Saturday's doubleheader at the links below:
Stats: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220326_dpwi.xml
Video: https://collegetvticket.com/event/centenary-college-vs-trinity-university-4/
Centenary recorded its first shutout of the season, scored 10 or more runs for the eighth time this season, and won by at least 10 runs for the seventh time. Diamond Gents' freshman LHP Tyler Herrera (Spring, Texas) turned in a dynamite performance on the mound as he blanked the Tigers on just three hits in his eight innings of work with nine strikeouts and just one walk. Herrera (3-0) lowered his team-low ERA to a staggering 0.69. He threw 81 pitches, 49 for strikes, and faced 27 batters.
Centenary's offense continued to shine at home where the Maroon and White are averaging 8.1 runs per game this season and 13.2 runs per game over the last five games. The Diamond Gents recorded a dominating 17-7 win over Millsaps in their most recent home game on March 9. Prior to the win over the Majors, the Diamond Gents won three of four games over Alma College Feb. 20-21, winning the final three by a combined score of 39-7 including a pair of run-rule blowouts in seven innings to sweep a doubleheader. Friday was Centenary's fourth run-rule victory of the season having also defeating the Mississippi University for Women Owls 15-4 in eight innings on Feb. 12.
Centenary has now scored 10 or more runs in a game a staggering 27 times over the last two seasons and have also recorded 10 or more hits in game 15 times this season. The Diamond Gents have collected 62 extra-base hits this season, including 15 triples which is the fourth-most in the country in division III.
Centenary's offense gave Herrera a 4-0 lead after two innings and the rookie did the rest, mixing an effective fastball with a devastating breaking ball to keep Trinity guessing and frustrated all night. His eight innings and nine K's were both season highs. Herrera, who was named the SCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week earlier this month, threw the Diamond Gents' third complete game of the season.
Herrera allowed a two-out single in the first inning, a leadoff single in the second, and a two-out single in the fifth. He struck out a pair in the first, induced an inning-ending double play in the second, struck out two more in the fifth and also struck out a pair in both the seventh and eighth. Herrera was coming off of a solid start last Saturday at Texas Lutheran as he received a no-decision in a six-inning effort versus the Bulldogs. He allowed just an unearned run and four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Trinity starter Corey Cater (0-4) suffered the loss as he allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits in his 5.2 innings of work. He walked three and struck out five and hit two batters. He faced 27 batters and threw 108 pitches, 70 for strikes. Three relievers combined to allow four earned runs and four hits with two walks and two K's. The Tigers did not help themselves in the field, committing two errors, grounding into a double play, and leaving three on base. Trinity pitchers threw four wild pitches and C Nicholas Lazzara issues one passed ball.
Freshman LF Cade LaBruyere (Iowa, La.) matched his single-game season-high with four hits on Friday as he went 4-4 with an RBI, three runs scored, a triple, and a stolen base. LaBruyere now has five multi-hit games this season. Senior 1B Preston Ludwick (Pflugerville, Texas) finished 2-4 with an RBI, and senior RF Luke Royle (Dodge City, Kan.) went 1-4 with three RBI and a stolen base.
Senior C Ben Bridges (Beckville, Texas) went 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior 3B Brady Robinson (Jacksonville, Texas) finished 0-3 with two walks and a run scored. Senior DH Tyler Welch (Pineville, La.) was 0-4 but walked one, scored a run, and stole a base. Senior 2B Tyler Erickson (Houston, Texas) was 1-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base, senior CF Gary Hewitt (Cedar Park, Texas) was 0-2 but scored a run, walked twice, and stole a base. Junior SS Noah Koehmstedt (San Diego, Calif.) was 1-4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.
Centenary drew five walks and stole six bases, marking the eighth time this season that the Diamond Gents have stolen at least two bases in a game and the fourth time that they have stolen six or more. Centenary now has 42 stolen bases in 55 attempts this season.
See the complete Diamond Gents' season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change.
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