GEORGETOWN, Texas — Landon Durdin delivered a two-out, two-RBI walk-off single through the right side of the infield to give Southwestern a 5-4 win over Centenary, clinching the weekend three-game series for the Pirates.
Centenary got to Southwestern starting pitcher Benjamin Ludwig early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Chris Haggard opened the game with a leadoff single followed by a Cody Crowder walk to set up an RBI-double to left field. Tyler Erickson followed with another RBI on a groundout to second to give Centenary a 2-0 lead.
Southwestern's bats came alive in the bottom of the second. Jacob Tanner led off with a double to right-center. Jake Harris knocked him in with an RBI-single to right field, then scored on Daniel Montgomery Jr.'s opposite-field RBI-triple. Lance Kruse followed with a groundout to shortstop, scoring Montgomery for the 3-2 lead.
The Gents retook the lead in the top of the third, scoring on an Erickson RBI-single up the middle and Welch RBI-groundout to second for the 4-3 lead.
Ludwig settled in the rest of the way as the game turned into a pitcher's duel between him and Centenary starter Conner Lee. The Pirate defense supported Ludwig with a series of defensive gems, highlighted by a beautiful diving catch in right field by Ted Lobkowicz with a Gent in scoring position to save a run.
Both teams went scoreless until the bottom of the ninth when Centenary turned to Parker Primeaux for the save opportunity. Primeaux struck Tanner out swinging to start the inning. Harris and Montgomery followed with back-to-back singles through the right side, putting runners on the corners. Kruse flew out to leftfield, with Montgomery advancing to second.
Durdin followed by ripping a shot through the infield's right side, scoring Harris and Montgomery as the Pirates stormed the field in celebration.
Ludwig pitched the complete nine innings, giving up four runs on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the season. Centenary's Lee went eight innings, giving up three runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Primeaux surrendered two runs to pick up his second loss of the season. Harris hit 3-for-3 with an RBI, and two runs scored for Southwestern. Montgomery hit 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Durdin hit 2-for-4 with both of his RBIs on the final play of the game.
Southwestern improved to 11-12, including 8-3 in conference play. Centenary dropped to 24-4 and 9-2 in conference play, with one game remaining in Saturday's doubleheader.