Shreveport- The Centenary baseball team completed a three-game weekend sweep in non-conference play over the Dubuque University Spartans on Saturday with a 4-0 shutout victory at Shehee Stadium.
The Gents (9-2) remained unbeaten in five home games this season and won for the seventh time in their last eight games. Centenary, which won 13-6 on Thursday night and 5-1 on Friday, is now 8-1 in its last nine home games dating back to last season and the Gents have won 18 of their last 24 games overall going back to the start of last season. The Spartans fell to 0-3 with Saturday's loss. Centenary is off to its best start to a season since beginning 8-3 in 2017.
Centenary got on the board right away, scoring two runs on two hits in their first at-bat. junior first baseman Ben Bridges (Beckville, Texas) delivered a two-out two-run single to give the Maroon and White the early 2-0 lead. The Gents added a run in the second inning as junior center fielder Gary Hewitt (Cedar Park, Texas) doubled down the left-field line to score senior left fielder Luke Royle (Dodge City, Kan.) who had doubled to open the inning.
The Gents added a late run in the eighth as Bridges had an RBI single for his third RBI of the game. Bridges, Hewitt, and Royle each collected two hits to lead the Centenary offense which posted nine hits on the day. Senior right fielder Cody Crowder (Shepherd, Texas) went 1-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Crowder had two hits on Friday night including a double which was the 200th career hit for the sensational senior.
Four of the Gents' nine hits went for extra bases on Saturday as Hewitt and Crowder each had a double and Royle had two. Senior catcher Tyler Erickson (Houston, Texas) and junior shortstop Brady Robinson (Jacksonville, Texas) each had a hit as well.
Senior Preston Ludwick (Pflugerville, Texas) started on the mound for the Gents and picked up the win to move to a team-best 3-0 on the season. He allowed just two hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work. Sophomore Parker Primeaux (Lake Charles, La.) relieved him and picked up his team-high third save of the season after getting the save on Friday as well. He went 3.1 innings and struck out two.
Ludwick now owns a team-low 1.45 ERA as he has allowed just three runs and nine hits in 18.2 IP this season with seven walks and 15 K's and a complete game shutout. Primeaux is 1-1 with a 2.21 ERA and has struck out a team-best 16 batters.
Dubuque starter Anthony Scanlan suffered the loss to drop to 0-1. He pitched six innings and allowed three runs, all earned, on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Derek Hardin relieved him and pitched the final two innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with a strikeout.
Centenary remains at home next weekend as the Gents welcome the LeTourneau YellowJackets to town for a non-conference doubleheader set for Friday, March 12 at 3 and 6 p.m.
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
#GoCentenary #CTheOpportunity
