Dutch Start Weekend Baseball Series with Win
A balanced day by the Central College baseball team’s offense produced enough runs for a 5-2 win over Nebraska Wesleyan Friday in the first of three games between the two teams this weekend.
In six of its eight innings at bat, Central (11-11, 5-6 American Rivers Conference) led off with a hit and four times that leadoff runner came around to a score. Shortstop Kasey Carter and left fielder Chase Martin led the way for Central with a pair of singles each. Second baseman Logan McCoy and designated hitter Garrett Finley each had doubles, while right fielder Colton DeRocher reached 30 RBI on the season with a pair of RBI groundouts. Starting pitcher Chance Dreyer struck out four in six innings of work. He allowed just one earned run while walking four and giving up three hits. Sam Staley had three hitless innings of relief for his first save of the season. He walked two and allowed one unearned run.
The series continues today for the Dutch and the Prairie Wolves with a 1 p.m. doubleheader that can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
Beck Lifts Central Softball Team in Conference Split
The offenses were in overdrive as the Central College softball team split its American Rivers Conference-opening games at Wartburg College Friday, dropping a 9-4 decision before erupting for a 15-2, six-inning victory.
Central (20-4 overall, 1-1 conference) scored four runs in the first two innings of the opener but hit into a pair of double plays after loading the bases. Wartburg, which scored three runs in the third inning, then staged a decisive six-run uprising in the fifth. Starting pitcher Sydni Huisman (11-2) was tagged with the loss, yielding nine hits and five earned runs over 4.0 innings, walking two. Morgan Schaben allowed three more runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
Freshman pitcher Emma Beck delivered the response Central needed in the second game after watching an early 4-0 lead dissolve in the opener. Beck (5-0) allowed five hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning, walking one and striking out five in five innings. After being outhit 12-5 in the opener, Central hammered 17 hits in the second game. Second baseman Haley Bach, who was on base seven times for the day, was 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored in the nightcap and third baseman Franie Burnett rocketed a three-run homer to left. Central was up 7-0 after three innings and then put it out of reach with an eight-run sixth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate. Schaben pitched a scoreless sixth inning to close it out, allowing a hit and fanning one.
The Dutch travel to Indianola for another conference doubleheader against Simpson College Tuesday at 2 p.m. Simpson takes an 18-6 record, including a 1-1 conference mark, into a home doubleheader with Coe College Saturday.
Central Shares Ninth in Huge Illinois Wesleyan Men’s Golf Field
A good round that was nearly great landed the Central College men’s golf team in a five-way logjam for ninth place after the first day of the 37-team Illinois Wesleyan Invitational Friday.
The Dutch opened at 306 at the par-72 Ironwood Golf Course and will play at the par-71 Weibring Golf Course Saturday. The massive field, which is loaded with top teams, is spread out over the two courses. No. 13-ranked host Illinois Wesleyan University leads the 36-hole tourney at 287. Harold Dobernecker was 1-under-par through 15 holes but finished at 75 and is tied for 18th. Jake Moffett shot 76, Kyle Gabos had 77, Lucas Wendel shot 78 and Cole McGriff had 79. Central also had a pair of individual entrants. Jacob Brainerd shot 82 and Charlie Gaer had 90.
Day two of the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational begins this morning at 9 a.m.