It was a rough day for Central College on both the baseball and softball diamonds, as the baseball team was swept by Buena Vista University as heard live on 92.1 KRLS, and the softball team was swept by Bethel University (Minn.).

After surging out to a 17-5 lead through four innings, the Dutch baseball team’s lead slipped away for a 22-18 loss in the 4-hour marathon opening game of the doubleheader. The Dutch lost 12-0 in the nightcap against the Beavers. Declan O’Hare tied a school record with six RBI in the first game, blasting a grand slam in his first at-bat and adding a two-RBI single in the second inning. O’Hare was also the starting pitcher in the first game, scattering four hits and five runs over five innings of work. Kurby Vowels took the loss in relief. Right fielder Kyler Watson was 4-for-5 with two doubles and first baseman Garrett Finley had two hits and four RBI in the first game. Finley and Tanner Bigelow each had home runs, giving Central three for the game. Marcus Wenzel was saddled with the loss in game two after giving up seven runs in six innings.

Bethel, behind their ace, swept the Dutch softball team 9-1 in five innings and 7-3. Bethel’s pitcher went the distance in both games, yielding just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in the opener. Central came back with seven hits in the nightcap and only struck out twice. Pitching and defense, Central’s traditional calling cards, were lacking at times in the sweep, as the Dutch had six errors, including five in the opener. Morgan Schaben started both games and absorbed the losses. Emma Johnson and Lauren Birt each had two hits in the second game, and Haley Bach had two hits for the day. 

Central baseball fell to 9-4 overall on the year, and 0-3 American Rivers Conference play, and next host #15 Loras College on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. Dutch softball fell to 10-8 on the year overall and returns to action today as they play host to Fontbonne University in another non-conference doubleheader at 2 p.m.