Freshman second baseman Adam Ariola put in a shining performance with three runs batted in, but the lights faded out on the Central College baseball team – and the six seniors that have been the face of the program for the past several seasons – as Luther College downed the Dutch 14-4 on Friday to eliminate Central from the Iowa Conference tournament.
Central started strong before a rain delay seemingly shifted the momentum to the Norse, who pounded out ten hits and eleven runs from the third inning on to put the Dutch in their review mirror. Central pitcher Dirk Lindaman took the loss to end the season with a 5-2 record.
The Dutch finish with a 22-19 overall record and will lose outfielders Caleb Rangel and Jarred Lackey; infielders David Lakin, Ryan Allison and Anthony Miller; and pitcher D.J. Glasgow to graduation.