SHREVEPORT, La. – Senior starting pitcher Holden Novak allowed the Tigers to load the bases with no outs to start the game, but an unearned run later and an offensive outburst in the bottom half by the Gents allowed Novak to settle in as Centenary (19-6) claimed a 6-2 win against East Texas Baptist (16-9) Friday night, April 1.
With the Gents down 1-0 in the bottom of the first, junior Michael Schimpf singled up the middle and scored on freshman Colten Maples first triple of the season, a grounder right over first base down the right field line. Sophomore Chris Zapata then added his third sacrifice fly of the season to give the Gents the lead.
After a freshman Cameron Guin walk, junior Aaron Quintanilla doubled down the left field line on a hit and run that scored Guin from first.
The Maroon and White added single tallies in the middle innings to open a five-run lead. In the fourth, Schimpf picked up an RBI with a one out, bases loaded walk. However, the Tigers defense flashed the glove to turn a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
In the fifth with two on and one out, sophomore Cole Lavergne hit a ball to the shortstop. East Texas Baptist recorded the out at second, but a bad throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and Guin scored from second.
Senior Dakota Brown led off the sixth by reaching on a two-base error and scored on Ian Graham's double.
After the trouble in the first inning, Novak (5-2) settled in and finished the night surrendering five hits and three runs (two earned) in eight innings of work.
East Texas Baptist brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Brown went from right field to the mound and recorded a pair of strikeouts. Dylan Sumpter drove in a pair with a single to cut the deficit to three and bring the tying run to the plate. However, Brown struck out the final batter looking to end the game.
Sumpter led the Tigers from the plate with a 3-for-5 day, including two RBI's and a run scored. Ernest Perez (7-2) took the loss, allowing six hits and six runs (five earned) in six innings of work.
Centenary and East Texas Baptist play a doubleheader Saturday, April 2, beginning at 1 p.m.