GEORGETOWN, Texas — Southwestern scored seven runs in the third inning and made two decisive defensive stands to hand the Centenary Gentlemen their first conference loss of the season with a 9-7 win.
For a second consecutive start, Travis Harvey retired the first six hitters he faced in order and sat down nine of the first 10 Centenary hitters with the lone baserunner allowed reaching on an error in the top of the third inning.
Southwestern opened a big lead in the bottom of the inning. Ted Lobkowicz led off with a walk, and Maxwell Mims singled to center. After Preston Witt went down swinging, Jacob Tanner drew a walk to load the bases, setting up a two-RBI single to right-center.
Daniel Montgomery Jr. followed with a single through the right side, sending a shot just past the outstretched Centenary second baseman's glove, scoring Tanner. Lance Kruse drew a walk to load the bases once more, and after a Landon Durdin strikeout, Trent Rashcke hit a two-RBI single to center to end Centenary's starting pitcher's night.
Lobkowicz walked for the second time in the inning to load the bases once more, paving the way for Mims' two-RBI single through the left side to give Southwestern a 7-0 lead.
Southwestern faced its first major challenge in the top of the fourth. Centenary opened the inning with back-to-back walks and a single to load the bases with no outs. Harvey bounced back, striking out the next two hitters and inducing a fly out to leftfield to get out of the inning unscathed.
Centenary finally got to Harvey in the top of the fifth. Brady Robinson was hit by a pitch with one out, and Chris Haggard followed by reaching on an error. Cody Crowder hit a two-RBI triple to right, and Preston Ludwick grounded out to shortstop, scoring Crowder to score three runs with two unearned.
The Gents cut their deficit to one in the top of the sixth, getting a two-out RBI-double from Robinson and RBI-single from Haggard to end Harvey's evening. Trey Schwarz took the mound in relief and induced a fly out to leftfield.
A Centenary error with two outs extended the bottom of the sixth long enough for Harris to hit an RBI single up the middle.
Centenary loaded the bases with no outs once again in the top of the seventh, opening the inning with a double, single, and hit batter. And once again, Southwestern showed its resiliency. Schwarz struck out the next two hitters and would have escaped the inning unscathed if not for an error allowing one run before the Pirates escaped.
Southwestern answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a two-out Lobkowicz RBI-single to left center, scoring Durdin, who was hit by a pitch.
The Pirate defense retired Centenary's final six hitters in order, closing the eighth inning with a 6-4-3 double play and ending the game with Schwarz striking out Cole Collins looking to pick up the save, pitching 3.1 innings and surrendering just one run on two hits.
Harvey earned the win, bringing his record to 3-1, pitching 5.2 innings with four earned runs out of six scored in his 5.2 innings off four hits with five strikeouts.
Mims was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Harris was 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Lobkowicz and Montgomery each had a hit, RBI, and run scored. Kruse was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Raschke finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Southwestern improved to 10-12 and 7-3 in conference play. Centenary fell to 24-3 and suffered its first conference loss in 10 games. Both teams will resume play tomorrow in a doubleheader.