CLEBURNE, Texas -- Second-seeded Trinity University go six strong innings from SCAC Pitcher of the Year Jackson Teer and the Tigers held off third-seeded Centenary College, 5-2, in opening round play of the 2023 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Baseball Championship Friday evening at The Depot at Cleburne Station. Official Website l Tournament Stats l Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview

Teer, fresh off the announcement of his SCAC Pitcher-of-the-Year accolade, pitched six strong innings, allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking four to send Trinity to the winner's bracket matchup against Texas Lutheran University tomorrow at Noon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Trinity pushed across the game's initial run in the bottom of the first, with Ty Preston scoring Jack Baker on a two-out single to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
• Trinity scored two more in the bottom of the fourth, with Michael Montrezza singling home Preston and an RBI ground out from Colt Harris scoring Montrezza to extend the lead to 3-0.
• Centenary dented the scoreboard in the top of the sixth with Collin Pitts' fielders choice pushing across Carson Livesay, whose lead-off single opened the inning.
• Trinity added an unearned run in the seventh and Centenary responded with a run off its on to make it 4-2 heading to the bottom of the eighth. Trinity's Ezra Gore doubled home Jack Peterson - an unearned run - in the bottom half of the eighth, providing the final 5-2 margin.
• Last year's Pitcher-of-the-Year, sophomore left-hander Tyler Herrera got the starting nod for Centenary and allowed three earned runs in five innings of work, striking out three while walking two.
• Sophomore reliever Jack Martinez came on and got the final four outs to collect the save, his league-leading fourth of the year. 

TRINITY UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Ezra Gore: 3-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 SB
• Jack Baker: 1-5, 2 runs
• Ty Preston: 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 SB
• Michael Montrezza: 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Jackson Teer (WP): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 2 BB
• Jack Martinez (SV): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 K

CENTENARY COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Lenny Forth: 2-5, 1 run, 1 SB
• Gary Hewitt: 2-5
• Zachery Van Gorkom: 1-1, 1 RBI
• Carson Livesay: 1-4, 1 run
• Tyler Herrera (LP): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 K, 2 BB

NOTABLES

• Trinity has now won four-straight SCAC Tournament openers and improves to 17-1 over its last 18 tournament debuts.
• The Tigers have also won all four meetings against the Gents so far this season after also sweeping the three regular season meetings between the two teams.
• Trinity improved to 10-5 all-time against Centenary in SCAC Tournament action.
• Teer is now 9-1 on the season with his only loss coming back on Feb. 26 against Babson.

UP NEXT

Trinity will take on top seed Texas Lutheran at Noon CT on Saturday, while Centenary will face Southwestern in the first elimination game at 3:30 p.m. CT.