SHERMAN, Texas – If there was any question if the Gents bats travel, it only took four innings to answer in the affirmative.
The Gents tallied their 11th double-digit run scoring game of the season, while junior Kaleb Kirk struck out 13 as #15 Centenary (14-3, 1-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) began its conference season with a bang with a 12-0 win in seven innings at Austin College (4-13, 0-1 SCAC) Friday night, March 10.
Kirk (4-1) went 6.2 innings to strike out 13, the most punchouts in a game in the SCAC since former Gent Taylor Henry struck out 14 in an 8-1 win against Schreiner March 22, 2015. Kirk allowed only three walks and two hits in the game.
With Centenary up 3-0 after three, the Maroon and White took advantage of costly errors to score six in the fourth. Junior Cole Lavergne hit an infield single, while sophomore Andrew Russell legged out a bunt for a base hit. Sophomore Cameron Guin hit one right back to the mound, but Austin College pitcher Josh Lewis overthrew third to allow Lavergne to score and advance a pair into scoring position. Freshman Zane Wilkinson singled in Russell as Guin and Wilkinson moved into scoring position on the throw. Senior Aaron Quintanilla put the Gents up 7-0 with a two-RBI single to center field.
The Maroon and White were not done, as Quintanilla stole second and scored on senior Michael Schimpf's single. Schimpf scored on junior Chris Zapata's double.
Zapata, finishing the day 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a run scored, added his conference-leading fifth home run with a two-run shot to right-center in the sixth. Wilkinson doubled, stole third, and scored on a passed ball for the final run in the seventh.
Wilkinson, Quintanilla, Schimpf, and junior Ian Graham all joined Zapata with a pair of hits. Schimpf also scored twice and added two RBI's.
Centenary scored three in the third to start the game. Guin led off the inning with a single, and an Austin College error put runners on the corners. After a popout, Crowder drove in the opening run with a groundout. Schimpf followed with an RBI double and scored on a dropped fly ball.
Lewis (3-2) took the loss for the 'Roos, allowing 10 hits and nine runs (five earned) with three strikeouts in four innings of work.
Centenary concludes the three-game set with Austin College with a doubleheader beginning Saturday, March 11, at 11 a.m.