Baseball ties things in 8th; Undone by Centenary to take Sweep

SHREVEPORT, La. – The University of Dallas baseball team (6-21, 2-10 SCAC) could not contain Centenary College of Louisiana (15-10, 10-2 SCAC) as both teams combined for six runs in the eighth inning in Saturday's finale at Sheehee Stadium.

Dallas made a late surge in the top part of the frame to knot a 4-4 affair, but the Gents utilized a four-run half to capture an 8-4 final and sweep. UD has dropped its past nine in a row, while the Maroon and White have won six-straight, and are tied at the top of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) standings.

After a two pitching duels on Friday, both squads eclipsed double figures in the hit total. The Crusaders totaled 11, led by senior Nolan Kipp (Folsom, Calif.) with three to match a season-high. Also notching multi-hit contests were senior Luciano Villanueva (San Antonio, Texas) and junior Jake Pierce (Tucson, Ariz.) with two apiece.

Centenary took an early advantage after its first trip to the plate, scoring once on an Aaron Quintanilla single. That margin was quickly erased in the top of the second, as the Navy and White scratched a run on an RBI ground out by sophomore JP Fasone (Englewood, Colo.).

Fasone would add a base knock later in the game, helping cut a 4-1 deficit in half with a single to left center. Sophomore Avery Arnold (McKinney, Texas) raced in through the dish. The center fielder recorded a hit and scored two runs in the setback.

After the home team took a single-run lead in the third, the Maroon and White extended things in the fifth with a pair. Fasone's single sparked a run of three unanswered from the Crusaders, with most of the damage occurring in the eighth.

A leadoff single by Kipp and hit by Pierce two batters later got the table set for Fasone, who walked to load the bases. Villanueva provided UD's only extra base knock of the afternoon with a double to left center, and rallied the visitors on his pair of RBI.

A quartet of scoring plays in the next half of the eighth sealed the contest for Centenary.

Chris Zapata posted a game-high four hits to match his RBI amount on the day. Christian Sebastien and Quintanilla garnered the remaining multi-hit performances for the Gents, and Quintanilla added three runs driven in.

Junior Denton Martin (Denton, Texas) received the start and earned a no decision in five innings of work. He allowed four runs on seven hits, while walked three and striking out seven. This is his second highest total of opponent whiffs since the righty fanned 10 on opening day.

Fellow classmate Brian Donley (Chicago, Ill.) was charged in the setback with three runs, a hit, a walk, and a punch out written on his line. Sophomore William Marshall tossed two innings in relief.

Kaleb Kirk took the bump for Centenary and allowed a run on a hit in two innings of work. Michael Francis pitched most of the game for the Gents and allowed three runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings.

Earning the win was Devin Bench (1-0) with 1.2 innings of one hit-ball. He struck out three.

UP NEXT

Dallas is back at the home confines on Tuesday, Apr. 7 for some non-conference action with University of Texas-Dallas. First pitch slated for 3 p.m.