Todd Ryals

Ninth Inning Rally Falls Just Short for Wildcats

4/23/2017 6:51:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

After weather concerns postponed the Louisiana College home doubleheader against Centenary College on Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats and Gents got together for a single game to finish their series Sunday at Billy Allgood Field. LC scored three runs in the final two innings but a fourth double play ended the Wildcats rally one run short of taking another game from the Gents 7-6. The Wildcats will close the regular season this weekend with a three game American Southwest Conference series against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Billy Allgood Field.

Centenary got on the board first in Sunday's series finale, scoring a run on a base hit up the middle, after the lead off batter drew a five-pitch walk to start the game. They added to their lead in the third on a double to deep center field, to score the runner from first who reached on an error.

Already down 2-0, the deficit grew in the fifth on one swing of the bat, as Chris Zapata deposited the first pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall, pushing the Centenary lead to 5-0 after five innings of play. The Wildcats were held to just two hits through the first five innings of play, but were finally able to mount a rally in the bottom of the sixth.

With the top of the lineup to start the inning, the Wildcats got back-to-back base hits, which was followed by a balk to put runners at second and third with no one out. Seth Stevens came through with a single to center to score the first two runs of the day for LC. A single to right moved Stevens to third, and he came in to score on a wild pitch to cet the Gents lead down to 5-3. The third double play of the game for the Gents ended the inning on a strike out/throw out at second base.

The deciding runs for Centenary came in the top of the next inning, when a triple off the wall with a runner on first scored two runs as the throw in from the outfield traveled into the Gents dugout to bring the batter in from third on the play, giving the visitors a 7-3 lead after seven innings of play.

The Wildcats scratched across a run in the bottom of the eighth on a bases loaded ground ball to the left side with 1-out, but that would be all they would get as another ground ball to third ended the inning. In the ninth, LC was poised to finish their second walk-off win over a top 10 ranked team with the bases loaded an only one out in the inning. Kiefer Moore came through with a 2-run single to right to pull the Wildcats within a run at 7-6, and the tying run at second base. Unfortunately, the Gents turned their fourth double play of the game on a ground ball to short to end the game.

Seth Stevens went 4-for-5 on the day with a run scored and two RBI, the only Wildcats with multiple hits in the game. Seven other players had at least one hit and Zane Corbell reached base three time on hit by pitches in his first three plate appearances. Charlie Waddingham took the loss, going 5.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits with no strikeouts. Carson Bolyer, Trey Ducote, and Hunter Eyre, each pitched in relief allowing just three hits over the final four innings of the game.

The Wildcats will host Mary Hardin-Baylor in their regular season ASC series finale this weekend at Billy Allgood Field. The series is scheduled for a doubleheader Friday starting at 4 p.m. and the Wildcats will celebrate senior day on Saturday with a 12:15 first pitch. Senior recognition will take place for the game Saturday, beginning at 11:45 a.m.

With just three games remaining in the season, the Wildcats are guaranteed a spot in the ASC postseason tournament. Depending on the outcome of the LC-UMHB, UT Dallas-Howard Payne, and Sul Ross-Hardin-Simmons series', the Wildcats could enter the tournament anywhere from six to eight in the eight-team bracket. Stay connected to Louisiana College baseball by following @LC_bsb or @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or liking LC Athletics on Facebook.

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