The Central College baseball team’s defense was on display Wednesday, allowing just five hits and committing one error as the Dutch toppled Grinnell College 8-3 at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.  

Sophomore pitcher Ryan Dusil was credited with the win, striking out one and allowing three runs on three hits in four innings. Senior Mike Werkheiser threw three innings, allowing one hit and striking out one and senior Bret Bell struck out two in two innings. The trio walked seven batters in total.  

Offensively, Central jumped into the lead with two runs in each of the first two innings and added another in the fourth. Grinnell kept pace with two runs in the first and one in the fourth, but sputtered down the stretch. The Dutch added one run in the seventh and wrapped up the scoring with a two-run eighth.  

Catcher Josh Stanton was 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Center fielder Sam Stetzel and shortstop Mike Furlong were also 2-for-4.  As a team, Central compiled 10 hits.  

Central is now 13-3 overall and visits Iowa Conference rival Loras College Friday night for a 6 p.m. showdown in Dubuque. The Duhawks are 8-8 with a 0-3 conference mark. Central is 3-0 in conference play.