Minutes before the season was set to start at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, the Central College softball team lost its top pitcher, Sydni Huisman, to an apparent ACL injury.

Then the Dutch lost their first two games of the season, 10-2 to Alma (MI) in five innings and 12-9 to Randolph-Macon (VA). Both were heard live on KRLS3.

While losing your ace is never ideal, it couldn’t have come at a more difficult time, playing the best competition in the country at the prestigious season opening event. Morgan Schaben was thrust into the lead roll, and allowed seven second inning runs as the Scots took control of the opener.

In game two, Schaben again gave up seven second inning runs, but the Dutch rallied to take the lead with five of their own in the second and four more in the third. But that was all Central could muster, and the Yellow Jackets fought back, eventually scoring three runs in the sixth to take the lead for good.

Central starts the season 0-2 and will play Manhattanville (NY) and Salisbury (MD) at 1:30 and 3:30 Iowa time this afternoon. Both games will be broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.