Shreveport - The Centenary baseball team extended its season-high winning streak to nine as the Diamond Gents recorded a dominating doubleheader sweep over the Southwestern University Pirates in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday, winning both in run-rule fashion, 11-0 in game one and 18-4 in game two on Senior Day at Shehee Stadium.
The Diamond Gents (23-13, 13-5 SCAC) completed the series sweep over the Pirates (16-18, 7-11 SCAC) after a 3-2 walk-off victory in the opener on Friday night and clinched a berth in the 2022 SCAC Championship set for May 6-8 in Cleburne, Texas. The 2022 senior class - Brady Robinson (Jacksonville, Texas), Ben Bridges (Beckville, Texas), Gary Hewitt (Cedar Park, Texas), and Ian Veserra (Cypress, Texas) was honored in a postgame ceremony after game two in addition to the six fifth-year seniors.
Centenary finished 13-5 at home, won its six-straight home game, and ended up winning 13 of its final 16 games at Shehee Stadium after starting 0-2. The Diamond Gents are an impressive 33-8 in their last 41 home games. Centenary gained revenge this weekend after losing all four games to the Pirates last season including a loss in the SCAC Championship which ended the Diamond Gents' season.
Seniors Preston Ludwick (Pflugerville, Texas) and Robinson each achieved individual milestones on Saturday as Ludwick recorded his 150th career RBI in the fourth inning of game two, preceded by Robinson's 100th-career hit. Centenary, one of the top offensive clubs in the conference and all of division III, has now scored 10 or more runs in a game 15 times this season and 32 times over the last two seasons. Centenary has scored 15+ runs in a game six times this season and scored in double digits eight times in conference play. The Diamond Gents have also recorded 10 or more hits in game 24 times this season, and at least 13 hits 16 times. Centenary scored double-digit runs in a game at home nine time this season and recorded seven run-rule victories at home.
The Diamond Gents finish their regular season next weekend in Houston as they face the University of St. Thomas Celts (15-22, 9-9 SCAC) beginning Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 and 4 p.m. St. Thomas and Southwestern are battling for the fourth and final spot in the SCAC Championship. The Pirates face Dallas at home next weekend in their final conference series of the regular season.
*PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER FOR A COMPLETE RECAP OF SATURDAY'S DOUBLEHEADER*
See the complete Diamond Gents' season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/schedule
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