TYLER, Texas – Down 4-1 in the third, it looked like the Gents may have a repeat of a loss in Tyler a month ago.
What did the Maroon and White respond with? Key two-out hits and 6.1 innings of relief from junior Cole Lavergne.
The #8 Gents scored five unanswered and held off the Patriots in the ninth as Centenary (20-3) knocked off #2 UT Tyler (18-4) 6-5 in Tyler Tuesday night, March 21.
Down 4-1 in the fifth, Centenary used three-straight base knocks with two outs to tie the game. With one down, freshman Zane Wilkinson was hit by a pitch and senior Aaron Quintanilla singled. It looked like the Patriots would escape with no damage after they induced a flyout; however, senior Michael Schimpf singled through the right side to load the bases, and junior Chris Zapata scored a pair with a shot through the right side.
Down one still with two outs in the fifth, junior Ian Graham tied the game with a single to right that scored Schimpf.
While it was two-out hits that started the rally, the Maroon and White decided to score the winning runs in the eighth with no outs. Sophomore Andrew Russell walked and classmate Cameron Guin advanced him to second on a bunt single. Russell moved to third on an errant pickoff throw, and Guin stole second to put a pair in scoring position. Wilkinson singled to centerfield to put the Gents up a run, and a balk pushed the Gents lead to two.
Quintanilla and Graham led Centenary with three hits apiece.
After senior starter Grant Debevec allowed four runs in two innings of work, Lavergne (2-0) moved to the mound and had the quintessential bend-but-don't break 6.1 innings of work. He allowed at least one hit in all but one frame, giving up eight base knocks total. He came in the game in the third and allowed an RBI single, but he forced a double play and a groundout to keep the deficit at three.
Junior Kaleb Kirk threw the final 0.2 innings for his first collegiate save. His strikeout to end the game moves him into a tie for the lead in the conference in strikeouts (51).
The Gents struck first in the game with more two-out hitting. With one out and one on in the second, Lavergne got hit by a pitch. The Patriots got the second out, but Russell singled in Schimpf with two down.
With one out in the ninth, Lavergne allowed a single and double to put the tying run in scoring position. However, Kirk entered and got Gunnar Quick to hit into an RBI groundout and struck out Ben Romines to end the game.
UT Tyler loaded the bases off of senior starter Grant Debevec in the first, but a popout, RBI groundout by Blake Wilson, and a two-out, RBI single by Jared Pauley put the home team up one after two. In the third, Tim Hunter doubled and scored on Graham Welch's single. After another single, Lavergne replaced Debevec. Lavergne allowed an RBI single, but the twin-killing and a groundout ended the frame with the Gents down three.
Everyone in the starting lineup had a hit for the home team in the game. Hunter Palmer (0-1) took the loss for UT Tyler, allowing two runs and two hits without even recording an out.
Centenary looks for its third SCAC series win of the season when it welcomes Dallas to Shehee Stadium Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26. First pitch both days is set for one.