SHREVEPORT, La. – The first inning copied the opening frame of the non-conference game in February between the Pirates and Gents, as the home team staked a 2-1 lead after one. However, the Pirates scored a run in the third and a pair in the sixth as #12 Centenary (21-7, 6-4 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) falls into a tie for fourth with Southwestern (11-19, 6-4 SCAC) in the conference after a 4-2 loss Friday night, April 8.

The Gents were able to pitch out of a jam and score a pair in the bottom of the first after two Centenary walks. Junior Michael Schimpf drew a walk after being down 1-2 in the count, and freshman Colten Maples walked on four-straight pitches despite trying to lay down a sacrifice. A hit and run on a ground ball by sophomore Chris Zapata moved both runners into scoring position.

Southwestern was able to get a critical second out, but a passed ball and a two-out hit by junior Aaron Quintanilla put the Gents up 2-1.

However, Quintanilla's hit was the only Gents base knock until the eighth inning as Centenary finished the game with just three basehits. Will Preston (3-1) went eight innings for the visitors, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) with five walks and five strikeouts. Senior Holden Novak (5-3) took the loss for the Gents, allowing four runs and four walks with two strikeouts and 10 hits in six innings of work.

Matt Litz retired the side in the ninth for the Pirates for his second save of the season.

Down 2-1, Southwestern tied the game in the third when Will Cates led off the inning with a solo home run. He finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI's and a run scored.

For Southwestern in the fifth, a walk and a balk put the go-ahead run into scoring position with two down. Another walk and a Austyn Laird single put the visitors up 3-2. Cates followed with an RBI single on a hit and run, but he was thrown out trying to take the extra base.

However, Centenary was able to flash the glove and senior Dakota Brown threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. To lead off the fourth, Southwestern hit a comebacker to Novak, who tried to barehand the ball. It squirted through to junior Brooks Williams, who just got the runner at first. In the eighth with runners on second and third with two down, Brown recorded a critical strikeout and a foul out to keep the Gents within striking distance.

Centenary, who lost the first game in Georgetown, Texas, in February, will attempt to duplicate the same results with a pair of Saturday wins as the Gents battle Southwestern tomorrow in a double header. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.