SHREVEPORT, La. – The Gents fell in seven innings of game one, 8-0, before the Leopards rallied for a 6-4 win in game two as Centenary (3-4) dropped a doubleheader to La Verne (5-1) Saturday afternoon, February 16.
In game two with the Gents down 1-0, they scored two in both the first and third to take a 4-1 lead. With one out in the first, sophomore Preston Ludwick reached on an error and moved to third on junior Cody Crowder's single. Sophomore Chris Haggard followed with a double off the third baseman's glove to drive in the first run. An RBI groundout gave Centenary the first lead of the day.
In the third, Ludwick walked, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a single from Haggard. Alert baserunning allowed Haggard to move up to second on the play. An infield single by senior Cameron Guin scored Haggard to put Centenary up three.
Haggard led the Gents with a 3-for-5 effort from the plate with a run and RBI. Guin added a pair of hits and RBIs.
However, the Leopards tied the game in the top of the fourth and scored two more in the sixth thanks to key errors. With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, Jacob Freedman walked and Jacob Benson was hit by a pitch to bring the visitors within one. A sacrifice fly by Ryan Galen tied the game, but the Gents threw the guy out at third to end the La Verne inning. In the sixth, with runners on the corners and one out, a throwing error by the Gents pitcher allowed the go-ahead run to score. A walk and a fielder's choice loaded the bases before Adam Santa Cruz added a sacrifice fly to end the game.
Cruz led the Leopards with a 1-for-3 game with two RBIs. Devon Burhans (1-1) picked up the win in relief, allowing just two hits in 2.2 innings of work. Christopher Peres picking up his first save of the season, allowing just one hit in 3.1 innings of work. Brock Yates (0-1) picked up the loss for Centenary, allowing just a hit but two unearned runs in an inning of work.
In game one, the Leopards scored two in each of the first two innings en route to the 8-0 win in seven innings. In the first, Galan led off with a single and Tanner Siffert was hit by a pitch. Cruz plated both runners on a double. In the second with two down and a runner on second, Cruz added an RBI single and scored on Peres' double.
The visitors added four more in the seventh for the final eight-run margin.
Cody Norman (2-0) picked up the win for La Verne, allowing just four hits while striking out six. Austin Warner (1-1) took the loss, allowing six hits and four runs in 1.2 innings of work.
