CLEBURNE, Texas -- Behind a four-inning save from Austin Pryor, third-seeded Concordia (Tex.) earned a 4-3 win over sixth-seeded Centenary in the opening game of the 2026 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Baseball Championship. Official Website l Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview
The Tornados' offense scored three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead and held on over the Gents. Starter Rowdy Hoadley earned the win pitching five innings allowing eight hits and a pair of earned runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The start was delayed by an hour due to weather moving through the area early, but the Gents struck early getting a run across in the second as Caleb Ickles singled up the middle to score Clay Menard.
- The Gents had multiple additional scoring opportunities thwarted with a pair of double plays to end the second and third innings.
- Concordia (Tex.) was limited to just one hit through two innings before the bats came to life with four hits in the third, taking the lead on a two-out 2-RBI Jake Townsend single up the middle.
- The Tornados tacked on a total of three runs in the third to claim its first lead of the contest.
- Both teams added runs in the fourth inning to keep the advantage 4-2 Concordia (Tex.) through four.
- After the influx of scoring, both pitching staff's silenced the offenses until the Gents' Bryce Bienvenu had a solo home run to right to cut the Tornados' lead to one, 4-3.
- Concordia's Austin Pryor entered in relief for the Tornados and earned a 4.0 inning save, closing out the contest.
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (TEX.) STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Louis Alonzo: 4-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Jake Townsend: 2-4, 2 RBI
- Logan Smith: 2-4, 1 run
- Rowdy Hoadley (WP): 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K, 4 BB
- Austin Pryor (S): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K, 1 BB
CENTENARY COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Bryce Bienvenu: 2-2, 1 HR, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 2 BB
- Turner Mclelland: 3-4
- Noah Paulson: 2-3, 1 BB
- Garritt Romero (LP): 7.0 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB
NOTABLES
- These two have met just eight times all time prior to Thursday's matchup with Concordia (Tex.) holding the edge, 6-2. It was their first-ever meeting in SCAC Tournament play.
- There were a combined 18 runners left on base in the contest.
- In the regular season, the series was 2-1 in favor of the Gents back at the end of February in Shreveport, La.
- Concordia (Tex.) moves to 3-2 all-time in the SCAC Tournament after a 2-2 run in 2025, the Tornados first season in the league.
UP NEXT
Concordia (Tex.) will now take on LeTourneau in Game Five of the tournament while Centenary awaits the loser of Game Two between McMurry and Hendrix.
