Centenary takes first two over Dallas

Irving, TX  - The University of Dallas baseball team lost the first two games to Centenary College of Louisiana, on Saturday April 9.  In game one, Centenary jumped out early and cruised to a 14-5 win.  Game two was a jarring juxtaposition as the teams combined for just 10 hits and three runs in a tight 2-1 contest.

(Game 1 Information)

Team Scores: Centenary (14) Dallas (5)

Team Records: Centenary (15-13, 5-5) Dallas (9-15, 3-7)

Pitcher Records: W) Tyler Hererra (5-0), L) Cortez Saenz (1-3)

Centenary started their offensive onslaught in the second inning.  The Gents loaded the bases with two outs, and then designated hitter Tyler Welch singled to left center to take a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Centenary got three more.  On a botched pickoff attempt, first baseman Preston Ludwick scored on an error by starting pitcher Cortez Saenz.  With the bases loaded, right fielder Luke Royle singled through the left side for an RBI, and then shortstop Noah Koehmstedt picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice as Royle was thrown out at second.

Centenary then scored one run in each of the next four innings.  In the fourth inning with two on and one out, second baseman Tyler Erickson singled through the left side to drive in a run.  In the fifth inning with two on and one out again, Ludwick hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Welch to make the game 7-0.  In the sixth with two on and two out, Koehmstedt caught the defense off guard and singled on a bunt to plate a run.  Finally, in the seventh inning with a man on second and one out, catcher Ben Bridges doubled to left to take a 9-0 lead.

In the eighth inning, Centenary put runners on second and third with no outs.  Then Koehmstedt grounded out to second to score a run, and then Welch singled up the middle to score another and make the score 11-0.

In the bottom of the inning, UD right fielder Jon Talley reached on an error with two outs, and then third baseman Maverick Martinez pulled a ball down the left field line for a home run, finally getting the Crusaders on the board 11-2.

In the ninth, Centenary put the first three men on base off a single, a walk, and an RBI double.  Defensive replacement Cody Crider doubled down the right field line to score Ludwick, and then Bridges followed after an error by first baseman Andrew Gaspar.  Crider then scored a few pitches later after a pair of wild pitches.

In the bottom of the inning, UD loaded the bases with two outs and then center fielder Grady Birmingham singled up the middle for two RBIs.  After a passed ball advanced the runners, Talley reached on an error by Ludwick as UD second baseman Tyler Darnell scored from third for the final run of the game, 14-5.

(Game 2 Information)

Team Scores: Centenary (2) Dallas (1)

Team Records: Centenary (16-13, 6-5) Dallas (9-16, 3-8)

Pitcher Records: W) Preston Ludwick (3-2), L) Graeme Williams (1-1)

Game two was notably lacking offense, but that did not stop the Gents from getting on the board first.  In the top of the first, Centenary got men on base with two singles by Welch and Preston.  With two outs, the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, and then both runners scored on an error by third baseman Fernando Davila.

In the bottom of the third, UD got their lone run of the game as left fielder Pearce Coleman started off the inning with a double to left.  UD then played small ball as game two catcher Anthony Maldonado bunted Coleman over to third, and then Davila grounded out to third as Coleman scored.

For the rest of the game, neither team got a runner to third base, and each team in only two innings got runners to second.  The latest either team had a runner in scoring position was the eighth for Dallas and the ninth for Centenary.

Besides having two sacrifice bunts, Maldonado had a magnificent defensive game foiling three stolen base attempts.  The Crusader catcher threw out third baseman Brady Robinson and Ludwick in the fifth inning, and he caught center fielder Cade Labruyere.

Starting pitcher Graeme Williams pitched his first career complete game, effectively pitching a shutout as both runs allowed were unearned, and struckout a season high six batters.

With the losses, UD's record moves to 9-16 (3-8) while Centenary moves to 16-13 (6-5).