Austin College Baseball Falls Late at Centenary

SHREVEPORT, La. - The Austin College baseball team rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning but ultimately fell 5-3 to Centenary College on Friday night at Shehee Stadium. The Gents scored late runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure the victory over the 'Roos.

Centenary struck first in the opening frame when Ethan Hopkins delivered an RBI single through the left side to score Blaine Birkelbach. The 'Roos leveled the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Jaxyn Rogers set up the scoring sequence with a ground-rule double down the left field line and later scored an unearned run when Tripp Thoms reached on a fielding error.

The Gents regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating two runs on an RBI single to right field by Birkelbach and a sacrifice fly to left field from Clay Menard. Austin College responded in the top of the seventh, tying the game at 3-3 with a productive offensive frame. Desmond Squalls drove in Kaden Stegent with a single through the left side, and Keaton Bradshaw followed with an RBI single to right center that brought home Jayden Ayala-Hinojosa.

Centenary took the lead for good in the bottom half of the seventh when Vance Sartor reached base on a fielder's choice, allowing Hopkins to cross the plate on miscue on the double play attempt. The Gents added an insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI double to left field by Noah Paulson to make it a 5-3 game.

Ayala-Hinojosa paced the Austin College offense with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, including a double and a run scored. Rogers added two hits, including a double, and scored once in his four at-bats. Jonas CeBallos started on the mound for the 'Roos, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts over five innings of work. Cade Rabal took the loss in relief, giving up two runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out two batters over three innings.

For the Gents, Birkelbach was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. Coen Laroux earned the win out of the bullpen, shutting down the 'Roos by tossing three scoreless innings and striking out five batters to close out the game.