Central Overpowers Two Softball Foes in Arizona

The No. 22 Central College softball team rolled past the University of Hartford (Conn.) 8-0 in six innings and the University of St. Catherine (Minn.) 9-1 in five innings Thursday at the Tucson Invitational games.

Opening the day against Hartford, pitchers Sydni Huisman and Morgan Schaben combined to throw a two-hit shutout. Huisman allowed just three baserunners in 5.1 innings, giving up two hits and a walk while fanning two. Schaben walked a batter but got the final two outs. Emma Beck limited St. Catherine to one run on four hits over 4.1 innings, walking one and striking out five, while Schaben again recorded the final two outs.

Right fielder Emma Jensen, who has shared starting duties with Mariah Parton, bolstered her bid for playing time by belting her first collegiate home run, with a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Catcher Rylee Dunkin had two of Central’s seven hits. The Dutch had five stolen bases against St. Catherine and nine for the day. They have 41 steals through the first 13 games.

Central completes its week in Tucson today, tackling Dickinson College (Pa.) and Salve Regina University (R.I.) at 1:30 and 3:30 pm pacific time. 

Vikings Rally in the Ninth to Beat Dutch Baseball Team

The Central College baseball team was one out from beating Salem State University Thursday afternoon but a four-run inning in the top of the ninth propelled the Vikings past the Dutch 9-7.

Central (4-7) got a solid first start of the season from pitcher Chance Dreyer, who struck out six in five innings of work, while scattering four hits and allowing just two earned runs. Reliever Parker Jones tossed two scoreless frames and then gave up one run in the eighth. In the ninth, the Vikings strung together a few base runners before a two-run double took the lead for good.

Eight of the nine runs for the Vikings came in the third and ninth innings. Five of their runs came on two swings after a bases clearing triple in the third helped them to their first four-run inning of the game. Central outhit the Vikings 14-12, including three hits apiece from left fielder Jaden Kramer and right fielder Colton DeRocher. Kramer hit his first collegiate home run to lead off the fifth. Center fielder Max Steinlage also had two hits and two RBIs, while Dreyer had two hits, including a double.

Central wraps up its Florida trip today with a doubleheader against Beloit College (Wis.) starting at 9:30 am eastern time.