Central can’t complete softball sweep
Two classes of Central College softball seniors were recognized Sunday and both left disappointed as the Dutch stumbled to a 6-2 loss to Buena Vista University and failed to sweep the teams’ three-game series. Central defeated the Beavers Thursday at Pella 9-5 and 5-1. Central’s 2020 class, which had its season come to an abrupt and unceremonious end last March due to the global pandemic, was saluted prior to the game while this year’s seniors completed their regular season and were honored afterwards. What happened in between turned on a missed opportunity in the fifth inning followed by a letdown in the sixth.
Buena Vista (16-20 overall, 8-16 American Rivers) erupted for five runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a 3-run homer by Mcknyze Nicholson-Hansen.
Trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning, Central (18-12 overall, 15-9 conference) loaded the bases, sparked by a leadoff pinch-hit for Denae Howes. Hitting for just the third time this season, Howes delivered her second consecutive pinch-hit, bouncing a single into center field.
The Dutch then loaded the bases with no outs and the heart of the order coming up but managed only one run on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Franie Burnett.
It all went sour in the sixth inning. A single and intentional walk left two on with one out and Wares opted for relief help for starting pitcher Sydni Huisman. It’s a move that’s paid off previously for the Dutch but it took three more hurlers to finally get out of the inning, walking four and giving up five runs on three hits in the frame. Freshman Emma Neu threw the final 1.1 innings for Central, allowing no runs or hits while walking one.
Huisman (11-9) was tagged with the loss, allowing three runs on four hits and one intentional walk in 5.1 innings.
Central did claw back for another run in the bottom of the sixth inning as third baseman Paige Roehlk surprised a drawn-in Buena Vista outfield by roping an RBI triple to left field but then the rally fizzled.
The game had no effect on the league seedings for the American Rivers Conference tourney, as pairings were already determined by Saturday night. Central opens tournament play Thursday against Nebraska Wesleyan University (13-19) at 10 a.m. in a double-elimination four-team pod at Waverly.
Dutch baseball refocuses for game two victory
After losing game one in walk-off fashion, the Central College baseball team got it done in game two with an 11-6 victory over Buena Vista University Sunday. The Dutch (13-21, 10-18 American Rivers Conference) led 5-1 in the final frame of the opener before the Beavers (17-19, 13-15 conference) scored five on a trio of home runs to win 6-5.
Lucas Farren sparked the Central offense in game two by scoring two runs and driving in two runs with pair of hits. He was walked and hit by a pitch twice to reach base five of his six plate appearances. Also in the nightcap, Center fielder Tyler Sass scored three times and shortstop Kyle Hauser crossed the plate twice.
In 4.1 innings of work, Landon Vander Leest gave up six runs on seven hits. Caleb Evans took over in the fifth and stymied a Beaver rally by striking out six of the 21 batters he faced.
Kurby Vowels started game one and allowed four runs on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. Nathan Schwanke took the loss after giving up a air of solo home runs in the seventh.
The final regular season series for the Dutch starts Friday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Simpson College.