Central Softball Boosted by Huisman’s Return
Central College rallied for a softball split Saturday at the University of Dubuque, as heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
The rally in the second game was sparked by an emotional lift with the return to the pitching circle for Sydni Huisman. After enduring a 9-1, six-inning loss in the opener, Central outlasted Dubuque 11-9 in the second game. Huisman, who was the expected ace for the Dutch this year before suffering what was feared to be a season-ending injury minutes before the season began, was the starter in game two, throwing 3.0 innings. Huisman was charged with four earned runs on six hits and two walks. A 3-run first inning helped Central rebound in the second game. Central pounded out 14 hits to pull out the win. Lauren Birt had two hits and scored twice while Cassie Severson, Emma Johnson and Franie Burnett each had two hits. Megan Stuhr and Megan Doty each hit their first homers of the year. Morgan Schaben threw the final 4.0 innings to record the win, giving up two earned runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Schaben sustained the loss in game one, getting charged with six earned runs on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Emma Neu allowed two runs over two innings on five hits and two walks with one strikeout. Birt had two hits and scored Central’s lone run, while Dubuque outhit Central 13-5.
Central’s record now sits at 14-10 overall and 2-2 in American Rivers Conference action. The Dutch return to conference action with a home-field doubleheader tomorrow against No. 22-ranked Loras College at 2 p.m.
Coe Sweeps Central Baseball
The Central College baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Coe College Saturday, losing 8-3 and 8-5.
Central had chances to win both games, and even led 5-4 in the third inning of game two. Freshman catcher Dom DeLaPaz had a breakout offensive performance in game one, going 3-for-4, including a solo home run. Landon Thiele was the losing pitcher in game one and Caleb Evans dropped the decision in game two. Central got another stellar relief performance out of Sam Staley, going six strong innings in the opening game and yielding just one earned run.
The Dutch are now 10-11 overall this season and 1-10 in American Rivers Conference play. The two teams meet again today at 1 p.m. in Cedar Rapids.
Individual Titles Pile Up at Home Track Meet for Dutch Women
Seven individual titles and a relay crown highlighted the home Central Invitational for the Central College women’s track and field team Saturday. The Dutch earned the team title with 236.33 points, outpacing second place Truman State University’s total of 158.33.
The Dutch swept the distance events. Caroline McMartin won the 1,500 meters (4:53.38), Megan Johnson won the 3,000 meters (10:42.86) and Alyssa Mayhew won the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:20.06). McMartin was also third in the 800-meter (2:25.95) and Layken Bytnar was second in the steeplechase (12:25.15) Cali Coffman cleared the pole vault with a winning height of 9-6.25 and high jumper Malory Jones was the best high jumper with a height of 4-11. Rayna Sickels won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.94 seconds. She was also third in the long jump (15-6.25), one spot behind teammate Karsyn Lamm. Abby Marr had a career-best hammer throw mark of 156 feet to win the event. She also finished third in the shot put (38-1.5). Allison Van Gorp was third in the discus throw (127-11). Abby Gruver, Abbi Roerdink, Elsie Thoreson, and Lauren Brown won the 4×100-meter relay in 51.43 seconds. The same four were second in the 4×400-meter relay (4:08.69). Roerdink was second in the 400 meters (1:00.62) and Thoreson was second in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.60).
Central is slated to attend the Loras Mid-Week Invitational on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Lewis Sets Men’s Long Jump Record at Home Track Meet
Erasing a 22-year school record in the outdoor long jump, Brock Lewis spearheaded the Central College men’s track and field team’s team title victory at their home Invitational. Central won the team title with 280 points, followed by William Penn University with 124 points. Lewis recorded a leap of 24 feet, 3.75 inches in his final competitive jump on Central’s track to take the new school record by .25 inches. It was previously set by Chris McCullough in 2000.
Lewis also ran the second leg on the winning 4×100-meter relay team that crossed the line in 42.77 seconds. He was joined on that team by Brian Hart, JD Elefson, and Nolan Reynolds. Reynolds and Elefson were the bookends on the winning 4×400-meter relay team (3:25.97), joined by Grant Boyse and Carter Tryon. Reynolds also was third in the 100-meter dash (11.30 seconds) and Tryon was second in the 400-meter hurdles (58.58 seconds). Sam Beatty and Drake Lewis were 1-2 in the men’s high jump with Beatty winning after clearing 6-9.5. Lewis got over the bar at 6-6.75. Nick Thompson had the winning javelin throw at 162-2. Theo Baldus had runner-up finishes in the discus throw (162-6) and hammer throw (165-1). Thomas Spoehr was second in the shot put (47-0.25). Lucas Heitz won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.13 seconds and Reid Pakkebier was second in 15.26 seconds. Brody Klein added a second-place finish in the pole vault (12-5.5). The Dutch took the top-three spots in the 3,00-meter steeplechase as Thatcher Krob won it in 9:27.19. Cutler Owens was second in 9:35.22 and Caleb Silver was third in 9:49.90. Will DeHaan won the 1,500 meters in 3:53.74 with Noah Jorgenson second in 3:58.77. Jack Sagan was second in 1:59.78 and Kenny Cronin was third in 3:58.77
Central is slated to attend the Loras Mid-Week Invitational on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Central Women’s Tennis Drops Road Dual
On the road at Augustana College (Ill.) Saturday afternoon, the Central College women’s tennis team was defeated 7-2 on the final weekend of the regular season. In the 6th singles spot, freshman Becca Vala won in a sweep, while Ashlynn Brant had the team’s second point, winning number 5 spot in singles action. The Dutch evened their overall season record at 11-11. The Dutch wrap up the regular season with a dual at Cornell College Sunday at 3 p.m.
Dutch Men’s Tennis Splits Senior Day Matches
A 9-0 win over Buena Vista University highlighted Senior Day for the Central College men’s tennis team Saturday afternoon. The Dutch lost 9-0 against Coe College in a morning match.
Tanner Finken gave the Dutch a win in the top singles spot, and Brad DiLeo was a winner in the third singles spot. Finken and Nick Scott won at the top of the double’s lineup, and DiLeo and Caleb Hamerlinck were victors as the number 3 doubles team. Trey Melvin and Ayden Fletcher won in the number two doubles spot. Scott won in number 4 singles play. Ayden Fletcher and Matthew Den Adel each swept their singles matches to earn the sweep for the Dutch.
Central now sits at 7-7 overall, and 3-2 American Rivers Conference action and next travels to Wartburg College Thursday for a 4 p.m. match.