LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – All seven SCAC schools were back in action this past weekend as Texas Lutheran, Southwestern, and Centenary continue to make their marks towards the top of the SCAC standings.
Austin College
The 'Roos went 0-3 over the weekend, dropping all three contests to Centenary College in conference play. In the first game, Centenary got two runs in the eighth and one in the 10th to take a 6-5 extra inning affair. Josh Lewis took the loss for Austin College, surrendering three runs – two earned – on three hits in 3.0 innings of work. Thomas Oberg went 2-for-5 with a run scored to lead Austin College offensively while Jeremy Halford, Dylan Day, Gus Daniel, and James Arguello all drove in a run. Centenary would complete the sweep the following day, winning 4-1 and 7-5. Blaine Tew took the loss for Austin College in the first game, surrendering four runs – only one earned – on 10 hits in 7.0 innings of work. Arguello went 3-for-4 to pace the 'Roos offensively. In the final game, Arguello finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Chance Hatchel added a 2-for-4 performance with a double. Mychael Parish took the loss after giving up five runs – two earned – on eight hits in 6.0 innings of work. Austin College moves to 3-11 overall and 1-5 in SCAC play. They have now lost five straight games. The 'Roos will look to reboun on Tuesday as they welcome in Dallas Christian before hitting the road to Georgetown, Texas to take on Southwestern in a three game series.
Centenary College
The Gents earned their second straight three game series sweep, this time defeating Austin College on the road. After a tough loss to nationally ranked LSU-Shreveport earlier in the week, Centenary got a key extra innings victory over the 'Roos, 6-5 (10), to open the series. The Gents scored two in the eighth and one in the 10th to earn the win. Chris Zapata led the squad with three hits and two RBI in the outing to join Christian Sebastien with the only multi-hit performances for the Gents. Brooks Williams joined the duo for the team lead in RBI with two. Taylor Henry (2-1) gathered his second straight win of the season on the mound. Henry tossed three-scoreless and hitless frames as he recorded five strikeouts and allowed two walks in relief. The following day, the Gents earned the sweep with a 4-1 and 7-5 win. Dakota Brown posted a pair of multiple hit efforts in the twinbill going a combined 4-for-9 at the dish. Jake McFarland registered the win on the mound in the first game. McFarland tossed 7.1 innings as he allowed just one run on six hits with five strikeouts. Taylor Henry recorded his first of two saves on the day in the affair as tossed the final frame without allowing a run or hit. Holden Novak registered the win on the rubber in the finale. Novak tossed 3.0 frames as he allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Henry pitched 1.2 with four strikeouts. Centenary nows sits at 11-10 overall and 7-2 in SCAC play. They look to keep things going as they return home this upcoming weekend to take on Dallas in a three game series.
University of Dallas
The Crusaders dropped another series this past weekend courtesy of a sweep by the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs. The teams began with a doubleheader on Saturday, with Texas Lutheran earning 4-0 and 9-5 wins. Martin Cronin (1-5) delivered his best outing of the season, hurling eight innings in consecutive starts. The righty allowed four runs, seven hits, three walks, and struck out four. At one point, Cronin had retired nine-straight opposing batters from the third to the sixth inning. He also limited Texas Lutheran to three hits until the top of the seventh. Luciano Villanueva and Nolan Kipp each went 2-for-3 at the plate. In the second game, Alex Stack and Trevor Keele, two of the top three hitters for Dallas entering, had solid performances in this one. The third baseman paced the team with three hits, while Keele also had a multi-hit outing with a pair. Both scored a run in the setback while Patch Healy added a pair of RBIs. Ryan Hammonds (1-5) would take the loss. In the finale on Sunday, Texas Lutheran completed the sweep with a 10-1 win. Villanueva claimed the only multi-hit outing for the Crusaders with a pair. JP Fasone had the lone RBI for the Crusaders as Denton Martin (1-3) took the loss on the bump. Dallas has now dropped six games in a row as they move to 6-18 overall and 2-7 in SCAC play. They will hit the road this weekend for a three game series against Centenary College.
Schreiner University
The Mountaineers were in non-conference action this past weekend, taking on the McMurry WarHawks on the road. Schreiner would suffer a sweep at the hands of the home team, dropping the first day doubleheader 15-1 and 6-2 before dropping the finale 6-3. Jayme Kidder (2-4) struggled for the first time this season, allowing 12 runs as McMurry led early and cruised to a win. Kidder did provide the lone run of the game, driving in Connor Ver Schuur in the fourth. In the back half of the double dip, Schreiner took a 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to a Ver Schuur double to score Brad Holmes. However, it would not be enough as the WarHawks responded with three runs in the fifth and did not look back en rout to the victory. Hayden Ray (1-5) would take the loss for the 'Neers despite going the distance. In the final game, Ver Schuur had two of Schreiner's six hits while Bret Hill drove in a run and Holmes added a RBI as well. Charlie Stewart (1-5) took the loss for the Mountaineers, pitching 7.0 innings and allowing all six runs. Schreiner has now lost eight in a row and goes to 4-20 on the year and 1-5 in SCAC play. They will return home and look to bounce back with a three game series against Texas Lutheran.
Southwestern University
The Pirates continue to knock of the nationally ranked teams, this time earning a series with over No. 6/13 Trinity by taking two out of three. After an 8-7 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor, the Pirates opened the series on Friday with a 4-3 win. Will Cates led at the plate, going 2-4 with two RBIs and one runs scored. Colten Shea and Chase Allen each had RBIs including the go ahead run in the eighth by Allen. Riley Wayland (2-0), Southwestern's closer, earned the win, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, and striking out three. He confidently took care of business on the mound, striking out two of three to close the game and earn the win. The following day, the Pirates clinched the series in dramatic fashion as Austyn Laird hit a two run homer in the bottom of the ninth for a wild 12-11 win. The Pirates offense was led by Ethan Luna and Clayton Sparks who each went 4-for-5 with a double and two and three RBIs respectively. Laird went 2-4 with 4 RBI that included the game winning walk off two run homer. Michael Platz (1-0) would earn the wild walk off win. Trinity would salvage a win and take the finale, 13-4 despite a two RBI effort from Ben Little and a 3-for-3 day from Clayton Sparks. The Pirates are now 13-10 overall on the season and 5-1 in SCAC play. They will remain at home this upcoming weekend as they welcome in Austin College for a three game series.
Texas Lutheran University
The Bulldogs continue to roll as they earned a three game sweep over the University of Dallas this past weekend. The Bulldogs started things off with a 4-0 and 9-5 win on Saturday to clinch the series. Aaron Aleman tossed his second straight complete game shutout and has now tossed 19.2 consecutive shutout innings. Against the Crusaders, Aleman gave up just five hits in the nine innings, while striking out eight. Keaton Bohrmann blasted his first homerun of the season, a two run shot, while Lincoln Baylor and Matt King added a RBI. The Bulldog offense again came alive late in the ballgame in the 9-5 win in Saturday's capper. TLU came back from a 2-1 deficit, scoring eight runs in the final two innings to blow the game open. Tony Gennusa finished the game 3-for-6 with a team-high three RBI and the Bulldogs' only extra-base hit. The Bulldogs racked up 17 singles in the game. Zach Jacobs and Alejandro Gutierrez also racked up three hits in the game. Both players scored a pair of runs. Thomas Harwell improved the 4-2 with the win. TLU finished off the Crusaders on Sunday, earning a dominating 10-1 win in the finale. In his second career start, Derek Cantu tossed five innings, allowing just one run on four hits. In his two starts this year, Cantu has given up just three runs in eight innings. Bohrmann and Gennusa led the way with a pair of 3-for-5 days. Both players notched an RBI and scored a run. Texas Lutheran has won four in a row as they go to 18-8 on the season and 7-2 in SCAC play. The Bulldogs will hit the road again this weekend, traveling to Kerrville for a three game series against Schreiner.
#6/13 Trinity University
The No. 6/13 Tigers went 2-2 this weekend as they dropped two out of three on the road to Southwestern in conference play. The Tigers opened up with a 19-4 beatdown of Hardin-Simmons. In the first game, a 4-3 loss, to Southwestern, Jeremy Wolf paced the Tiger offense with two hits in the game - including a double to lead off the eighth, setting up the game-tying hit for Walters. Trent Rape (2-2) had a terrific outing earned the loss despite pitching all eight innings and only allowing five runs. The following day, the Tigers dropped the first game of a doubleheader and the series in dramatic fashion, 12-11 before salvaging the series with a 13-4 win in the finale. Nick Jewett led the Tiger offense with his 4-for-4 performance at the plate in the second game, hitting two doubles, scoring three runs, and driving in two more. Colin Serkowski picked up three RBI, while George Haaland added two more for Trinity. Connor Moore had two hits and two runs scored, while Wolf was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Matt Tindall (0-1) was saddled with the loss in game one while Zack Speer improved to 5-1 with the game two victory, allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings, and striking out six batters. Ryan Gray registered the save with a standout performance to finish off the game, allowing no runs on just one hit over the final four innings. Trinity moves to 17-8 overall and 4-5 in SCAC play. They will take this weekend off from SCAC play, but have a couple of key non-conference matchups during the week against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Tuesday and No. 10 Concordia on Wednesday and Friday.