SHREVEPORT, La. – The Diamond Gents earned a doubleheader split in a pair of seven-inning games as Centenary (2-1) earned an 8-1 win in game one, but East Texas Baptist (1-1) battled back for a 12-2, run-ruled victory in game two Saturday afternoon, February 9.
Sophomore Austin Warner (1-0) twirled a complete game in game one, allowing four hits and one run with two strikeouts.
After the visitors scored in the top of the first, Centenary exploded for six runs in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Peyton Cormane battled back from a 1-2 count to draw a leadoff walk. Classmate Chris Haggard followed with a fly ball deep to left, but the left fielder could not hall in the catch near the wall to put a pair of Gents into scoring position.
After a strikeout, sophomore Preston Ludwick singled to center to tie the game. A hit by pitch and a bases loaded walk gave Centenary the 2-1 lead. A wild pitch scored a third run before sophomore Tyler Erickson cleared the bases with a double. Following a flyout, junior Bryce Kozeny punctuated the inning with a single down the left field line that drove in Kozeny.
Haggard finished the game 3-for-4 win an RBI and run scored.
East Texas Baptist only run of game one came when Dylan Sumpter led off with a single, stole second, and scored on Casey Combs RBI single. Derrick Findley (0-1) took the loss in game one for the Tigers, giving up six runs on five hits in one inning of work.
In game two, The Diamond Gents scored in the bottom of the first, but East Texas Baptist scored four runs in the sixth and six in the seventh for the win. In the first, Cormane walked, advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored when senior Cameron Guin reached on an error.
Junior Cody Crowder led the Gents by going 2-for-4 in the game.
With the Tigers up 2-1 in the sixth, key errors led to four runs for the visitors. Zachary McAdams singled and advanced to second on a walk. An error on a sacrifice bunt attempt scored one run before Combs hit a sacrifice fly. Zach Gartner singled in a run before a wild pitch scored him.
In the seventh, Landen Barns hit a two RBI double while Jake Miller drove in a pair with a single.
Seth Mikeska led the Tigers with three hits, three runs scored, and an RBI. Blake Corbing (1-0) picked up the win, going five innings and allowing five hits and an unearned run. Sophomore Joshua Gatewood (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and four hits in an inning of work.
Centenary concludes the weekend Sunday afternoon in East Texas Baptist. First pitch in Marshall, Texas, is set for 1 p.m.
