Down one run with two outs and no runners on base in the extra inning, the Central College baseball team ripped three straight hits to drive in two runs and edge Simpson College 4-3 in an Iowa Conference doubleheader sweep. The Dutch won the opener 7-2. Joel Pulliam secured the victory on the mound, pitching the last three innings. He gave up three hits and had one strikeout, improving to 5-0. Judson McKown started, allowing six hits and two earned runs in five innings of work, the first earned runs he has allowed in 26.2 innings this season. He struck out five and walked one.

The Dutch also rallied in the opener. Simpson struck quickly, blasting a home run in the first inning and posting another run with the help of a Central error. But the Dutch held the Storm scoreless the rest of the way while notching tallies in the first, third and fourth innings before breaking things open with two runs in both the sixth and seventh. Shortstop Mike Furlong knocked a single up the middle in the fifth inning, becoming Central’s all-time career hits leader. He surpassed the 207 mark set by Adam Duerfeldt from 2003-06 and stands at 209.

Max Seeman blasted his first career home run in the sixth inning, a shot to left field, and behind the plate he plucked two runners attempting to steal. Seeman finished 3-for-3 for the day and drove in three runs. Ryan Dusil tossed the victory, allowing six hits and two runs, one earned, in four innings, upping his record to 3-0. He struck out three and walked one. Mike Werkheiser recorded his first save of the year, pitching three innings. He scattered three hits and had three strikeouts.

Central is now 17-4 overall, and 7-1 in the Iowa Conference. They’ll continue conference action with a three-game weekend series at the University of Dubuque, beginning with a nine-inning game Friday at 6 p.m.