An 11-run seventh inning by Wartburg College cost the Central College baseball team a chance at victory in game two of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, falling 18-9 as heard live on 92.1 KRLS. The Dutch lost the first game 17-2 in seven innings. The second game was called after eight innings due to darkness.

The Dutch broke through for four runs in the sixth inning of game two to take a 9-6 lead. The Knights answered back with 11 of their own to go ahead 17-9. Central rallied itself after falling behind 6-0 in the third inning. Declan O’Hare had four hits while Ian Boline, and Lucas Farren each had three hits in game two. Colton DeRocher smashed a pair of home runs to drive in four runs. Six Dutch pitchers were used in game two, with Caleb Evans suffering the loss after facing three batters in the seventh, walking two and giving up a hit. In total, 11 Central pitchers combined to issue 20 walks in 15 innings.

“It’s going to be really tough to beat a program like Wartburg if you walk 20 (batters) in a doubleheader,” Klunder said. “All of our pitchers have shown flashes, but we aren’t consistent enough, but eventually, nine (runs) are going to have to be enough to win.”

The losses dropped Central to 9-9 overall, and 0-8 in American Rivers Conference action. The Dutch make their first true road trip of the spring Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game at Loras College.