Seventh-Inning Drama Produces Central Softball Split
Six hours was barely enough time to squeeze all the theatrics that left the #17-ranked Central College softball team with a split in a roller-coaster of a doubleheader at Loras College Saturday.
Twice, the Dutch (30-8 overall, 11-5 American Rivers) were just an out away from defeat and conjured up some seventh-inning magic but after escaping with a 7-5 nine-inning win in the opener, Loras delivered some two-out drama of its own with an 8-7 walk-off victory in the second game.
With Central down 5-3 in the seventh inning of the opener, left fielder Megan Doty roped a two-out, two-run single to helped send the game to extra innings. Catcher Madison Farrington knocked home the eventual game-winning runs with a two-out double in the ninth.
In game two, there the Dutch were again, trailing 6-5 with two outs in the seventh inning and this time it was first baseman Megan Stuhr who appeared to author the Hollywood ending with a two-run homer for a 7-6 lead. But in the bottom of the seventh, the script flipped to a disaster epic for Central as Loras got a two-out, two-run double to left center by Alyssa Hughes for the win.
The Dutch used three hurlers in game one, with starter Sydni Huisman returning in the eighth inning to get the win, improving to 15-4 while freshman Emma Beck got the final two outs to notch her first collegiate save. Huisman was charged for three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Morgan Schaben gave up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 3.0 innings.
Beck absorbed the loss in game two. She (10-2) started the game, was relieved for an inning by Schaben, then returned to finish the game. She allowed seven runs on 11 hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. Schaben gave up a run on four hits with one strikeout.
The split leaves the 17th-rated Dutch in third place in the conference standings, landing them in a first-round game Friday in the single-elimination conference tournament, against sixth-seeded Nebraska Wesleyan University at 4:30 p.m. The teams split a doubleheader in Pella on April 19. Friday’s winner advances to meet second-seeded Luther College in a semifinal game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The tourney champ receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament.
Dutch Drop Baseball Season Finale
After a promising start to the day, the Central College baseball team’s season ended Saturday afternoon with a 13-7 loss at Luther College
The Dutch (15-24, 8-16 American Rivers Conference) finished in seventh place in the league standings, one game out of sixth place. Only the top-six teams make the postseason tournament.
Central put up a crooked number in the top of the first, piling up four runs as Central hit through the lineup. Max Steinlage led off with a double. Four more hits from Declan O’Hare, Chance Dreyer, Chase Martin, and Kasey Carter scored runs. Seven scoreless innings for Central followed before putting up a ninth-inning rally with three more runs, driven in by a Steinlage single and a two RBI double from Carter.
Pitcher Sam Staley took the loss in 3.1 inning as the starter, giving up four earned runs. The senior trio of Brendan Short, Caleb Evans, and Hayden Smith closed out the game.
The pitching quartet are among the eight seniors departing the program after graduation.
Central’s Dobernecker Wins Third All-Conference Men’s Golf Award
Closing it out with its best round of the tournament, the Central College men’s golf team posted a 305 to surge back up to third place Saturday at the 54-hole American Rivers Conference Championship.
Defending champion Luther College cruised to the team title, gaining an NCAA Division III Championships berth at 305-292-294–891. Nebraska Wesleyan followed at 311-311-302–926 with Central at 312-323-305—940 while Wartburg College tumbled to fourth at 311-318-322–951.
Junior Harold Dobernecker secured his third consecutive all-conference award by climbing three spots to fifth place with a 3-over-par 74 at the par-71 Geneva Golf and Country Club course. He finished at at 76-80-74-230 after placing eighth in the conference in 2021 and seventh a year ago.
Central’s Kyle Gabos tied for 13th at 78-80-78—236 while Cole McGriff shared 15th at 81-80-76—237. Lucas Wendel, who shot 77-84-81—242, tied for 22nd with Jake Moffett who had 82-83-77–242.
Two players in the lineup, Gabos and Wendel, will graduate, as will Dustin Haines, who was with the squad at the tourney. Other seniors for the Dutch men’s golf squad are Keegan Bianchi and Jacob Brainerd.