LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – All seven SCAC schools were in action this weekend as some major shakeups took place atop the SCAC standings thanks to a big upset by Austin College. Meanwhile, Centenary and Texas Lutheran continue to roll through SCAC play, both proclaiming long winning streaks in conference.
Austin College
The 'Roos went 2-3 over the weekend, but their biggest mark came in conference play, taking two out of three from SCAC conference leader, Southwestern University. The 'Roos dropped their first three games of the weekend, falling 3-1 and 6-5 to Dallas Christian before a 4-3 loss in the first game to the Pirates. Austin College made its mark on Saturday, winning both games, 5-2 and 9-6. Mychael Parish picked up the win in the first game Saturday, surrendering one run on six hits in 7.0 innings of work, and Josh Lewis tossed 2.0 innings to earn the save. Thomas Oberg finished 2-for-5 with three RBI while Austin Dudley and Will Schommer also collected two hits. In the finale, a seven run ninth inning made the difference for the 'Roos to claim the series. Marshall Korn earned the win in relief, and Gus Daniel finished 2-for-4 with a grand slam in the ninth and four RBI for the game. Todd Takabuki finished 3-for-5 with a RBI, and Chance Hatchel went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Austin College moves to 5-14 overall and 3-6 in SCAC baseball play, inching closer to the fourth and final postseason spot in the SCAC standings. The 'Roos will travel to Marshall, Texas to take on East Texas Baptist on Tuesday followed by a three game home series against the Schreiner University Mountaineers on Friday and Saturday.
Centenary College
The Gents ran their winning streak to six games, earning their third straight sweep in SCAC play, this time coming against the University of Dallas, 3-2, 1-0, and 8-4. In the first day's doubleheader, the Gents used timely hitting and received pitching gems from Holden Novak, Jake McFarland and Taylor Henry to keep pace in the race for the top seed in the SCAC standings. Novak (6-1) tossed 6.0 frames in the opener as he allowed just two runs on three hits. The junior fanned three and walked three in the start. McFarland (4-1) pitched 8.0 strong innings holding the Crusaders off the board as he allowed three hits. The senior hurler struck out eight with just one walk allowed. Henry picked up saves in both outings to bring his total to seven on the season. The reigning SCAC Pitcher of the Week combined for 4.0-scoreless innings of work with nine total strikeouts and one hit allowed. In the opener, Dakota Brown led the way with a 3-for-3 day to go with a RBI while Christian Sebastien drove in the lone RBI in the second game. Centenary secured the sweep in the finale as Zapata and Aaron Quintanilla delivered the final, run-scoring hits of the contest to down the Crusaders. Zapata, who led the team going 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBI, drove in the game-winning runs as he logged a two-run single to right field scoring Dakota Brown and Brooks Williams. Centenary moves to 14-10 overall and 10-2 in SCAC play. They will enjoy a weekend away from SCAC play, but will still have heavy action ahead, taking on LeTourneau on Tuesday and following that up with a four game series against in-state rival Louisiana College on Friday and Saturday.
University of Dallas
The Crusaders played well all weekend long, but could snap a nine game losing streak as they were swept by the Centenary College Gents, 3-2, 1-0, and 8-4. It is the third straight SCAC series where the Crusaders have been swept. On the first day, in a doubleheader, Dallas got a pair of tremendous pitching performances from Martin Cronin (1-6) and Ryan Hammonds (1-6), but it was not enough for the Crusaders to pick up a victory. Cronin allowed three runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings. He battled around eight hits, a walk, and struck three opponents out. Hammonds went the distance, allowing only one earned run on three hits and striking out six in the loss. On the day, Patch Healy drove in a run for the Crusaders while Avery Arnold and JP Fasone each had a double. Dallas scrapped back to tie the game at four in the eighth of the finale, but the Gents would score four runs in the bottom of the eighth for the 8-4 win. Nolan Kipp had three hits on the day while Luciano Villanueva and Jake Pierce added two more hits. Villanueva and Fasone each drove in a pair of RBI. Brian Donley (0-1) took the loss for the Crusaders. Dallas falls to 6-21 overall and 2-10 in SCAC play. They will return home this weekend with a Tuesday night matchup against Texas-Dallas followed by a three game home conference series against Trinity University.
Schreiner University
The Mountaineers had a tough weekend, taking on Texas Lutheran University in a three game series and falling 16-1, 15-5, and 14-0. In the first game, Texas Lutheran blew the game wide open in the final three innings to take a 16-1 win. Jayme Kidder led the Mountaineers, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI, but was saddled with the loss (now 2-5), pitching 6.0 innings and allowing five earned runs. The Mountaineer relievers struggled, allowing nine total runs in the final three innings. The final two games did not improve for Schreiner as they were swept, losing both games by over 10 runs. In the first contest, Hagen Fryrear led the offensive attack with a RBI and run scored while finished 3-for-4. Brad Holmes and Kyle Romaguera each added a RBI as well. Quinton Volovar was the lone bright spot in the finale, finishing 2-for-2. The Mountaineers have now dropped 11 games in a row and sit at 4-23 overall and a 1-8 in SCAC play. They will look to respond as they hit the road this upcoming weekend to take on the Austin College 'Roos.
Southwestern University
The Pirates had a tough weekend, going 1-3 overall including a 1-2 weekend in conference play as they dropped two out of three to Ausitn College. After falling 5-4 in 11 to East Texas Baptist on Tuesday, Southwestern picked up a 4-3 win over the 'Roos in the first game of a doubleheader. The Pirates were led by Chase Allen at the plate who was 3-for-3 on the day with a double and run scored. Will Cates, Ben Little, and Colten Shea each drove in runs. Jacob Kendra (3-0) earned the win in six innings of work, allowing three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three while Michael Platz and Riley Wayland (5) shut the door in the final three innings. The following day was not as kind to the Pirates, as they dropped both games to the 'Roos, 5-2 and 9-6. Allen led the way in the first contest, going 3-for-4 while Noah Clark gardnered the loss. In the second game, Cates was phenomenal, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, and four runs scored while Clayton Sparks drove in three runs for the Pirates. The losses drop Southwestern out of the top of the standings as they move to 14-13 overall and 6-3 in SCAC play. They will look to rebound this upcoming weekend as they take on Hardin-Simmons on Tuesday followed by a huge three game road series against Texas Lutheran University on Friday and Saturday.
Texas Lutheran University
The Bulldogs were in top form, yet again, as they crushed Schreiner in a three game series, 16-1, 15-5, and 14-0. In the first matchup, Keaton Bohrmann was outstanding, going 5-for-6 with a pair of doubles, two RBI, and four runs scored. Alejandro Gutierrez finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a triple while Austin Frick was 2-for-2 with a double, triple, and two RBI. Aaron Aleman cruised to his sixth win of the season, pitching 8.1 innings and only allowing four hits while striking out seven. The following day, Bohrmann finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Trenton Ray drove in three RBI as the Bulldogs, again, rolled the Mountaineers. Thomas Harwell improved to 5-2 on the year, going 7.0 innings, allowing no runs, and striking out nine in an impressive outing for TLU. In the final game, Bohrmann completed his phenomenal weekend, going 3-for-5 at the plate, and only a single short of the cycle, while driving in four runs and scored two more runs. Zach Jacobs was 1-fo-2 with a two run homes while Law also left the yard, driving in one run and also scoring three runs in the contest. Derek Cantu improved to 3-0 on the year, allowing only three hits in 5.0 inings pitched. The Bulldogs are now 21-9 in SCAC play and 10-2 in SCAC play, moving into a tie at the top of the standings with Centenary. The Bulldogs have a big weekend coming up as they take on Mary Hardin-Baylor on Tuesday and welcome in third place Southwestern University for a three game conference series.
#13/19 Trinity University
The No. 13/19 Tigers went 2-1 this past weekend including a win over nationally ranked Concordia (TX) this past weekend. The Tigers began things with a 12-6 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor. Carter McEachern led the way with a 3-for-3 performance, hitting three doubles and scoring three runs. Austin Singer was 3-4 with three runs and three RBI, cracking his team-leading sixth homer of the season. Colin Serkowski also had three hits, going 3-for-5 with one RBI. Matt Tindall (1-1) allowed three earned runs (six total) on six hits over his five innings as the Tiger starter, while Teddy Turner came on in relief to earn the save over a four-inning outing, striking out six. The Tigers then earned an 11-3 win over No. 15/18 Concordia (TX) as Ryan Gray earned the victory for the Tigers, upping his season record to 4-0. He pitched seven innings of the game, allowing one run on five hits, walking one, and striking out nine batters. Wolf was 3-for-5 with four RBI, adding a double to go with his round-tripper. McEachern was 2-for-3 with four RBI as well. The Tornadoes would take the second and final matchup, 8-3. Trinity is now 19-9 on the season and remains 4-5 in SCAC play. They will return to conference play this upcoming weekend, heading to Irving to battle the University of Dallas.
