Dutch Take Two Thrilling Softball Games from Simpson
Rallying late in both ends of a doubleheader heard live on 92.1 KRLS, the Central College softball team swept Simpson College 5-4 and 6-5 Saturday afternoon.
The Dutch (21-6, 8-0 American Rivers Conference) overcame multiple two-run deficits in each game against the Storm (24-12, 7-7 conference). Trailing 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in game one, Haley Bach’s single scored Megan Doty from second. Pinch hitter Emma Lenox connected a few pitches later for her second hit of the season to tie the game at 4-4. After Simpson scored one to retake the lead in the top half of the eighth, Central rallied again as a two-RBI single from Mariah Parton made the Dutch walk off winners.
In an almost identical spot in game two, Central trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth before back-to-back bases loaded walks knotted the game at 4-4. An Emma Johnson RBI single put Central in front for good. Morgan Schaben closed the door with a two-out save. Emma Beck was the winning pitcher in both games. She recorded all three outs in the eighth inning of the opener before Central walked it off in the bottom half of the inning. She yielded four earned runs on four strikeouts and two walks in 6.1 innings as the game two starter. Sydni Huisman started the first game and went 4.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.
The Dutch travel to Luther College on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Dutch Battle Weather, Stiff Competition at Augustana Track and Field Meet
The Central College track and field teams put some good marks down despite the rough conditions at Augustana College’s Meet of Champions Friday and Saturday.
In the team standings, Central’s men were fifth and the women were ninth. Central was competing without several of its top athletes due to a different meet for multi-event athletes and an academic conference in Chicago.
Kale Purcell had a pair of runner-up finishes in the men’s triple jump (4 feet, 7.75 inches) and long jump (22-9.25). Kira Hooper ran the third-fastest 10,000-meter race in Dutch women’s history Friday night in a time of 37 minutes, 16.35 seconds, finishing second. Teammate Ellie Roorda was sixth in 41:34.89. Connor Miklos was Central’s only individual champion, taking the 110-meter hurdles time in a time of 14.86 seconds. Teammate Grant Miller was third in 15.02 seconds. Miller was also second in the javelin throw with a toss of 157-0.
Other top-five finishes for Central were Jack Brown and Randy Jimenez in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, who took second (9:19.91) and fourth (9:27.36), respectively. Kate Hoogensen was fifth in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in 12:04.09. In the women’s 400-meter dash, Lizzy Van Utrecht was second in 1:00.41 and Lauren Brown was fourth in 1:01.51. Abby Gruver was third in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:08.96 while Alyssa Mayhew was fifth in 1:10.24
Central will have athletes entered in the Drake Relays and the Kip Janvrin Open hosted by Simpson College next weekend.
Central Men Tennis Team Completes Weekend Sweep
With an 8-1 defeat of Loras College Saturday morning, the Central College men’s tennis team finished off its second American Rivers Conference win of the weekend.
Central (7-10, 4-1 American Rivers Conference) has now won 30 straight matches against Loras (7-12, 2-4 conference). The Dutch also beat Dubuque 9-0 Friday night. The Dutch started with another clean sweep through doubles but AJ Wilkins and Travis Subbert had to work hard for an 8-7 (8-6) win at the top. At No. 2 doubles, Alex Slaymaker and Ayden Fletcher won 8-6 while Alejo Marcon and Ernest Alvarez Chedzoy won 8-5 at No. 3. In singles, Fletcher lost the first set but rallied for a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8) victory at No. 1. Wilkins won 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, Alejo Marcon won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3, Chedzoy won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 and Subbert won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5.
Central’s busy stretch at home continues Monday against Buena Vista University at 4 p.m.
Dutch Women’s Golf Team Drops First-Round Match at Battle of Bos
The Central College women’s golf team was defeated 4-1 in the opening round of its Battle of Bos match play event by the Grinnell College B team on Saturday.
Grinnell’s A team beat Wartburg College 5-0 in the other first-round match, meaning Sunday’s championship will put the two Grinnell teams against each other. Central and Wartburg will play the third-place match. The Pioneers were ranked No. 20 in the most recent Division III Mizuno WGCA poll.
The only victory for Central against Grinnell came at the top where senior Mackenzie Biggs won 4 and 3 against Amy Nguyen.
Biggs is one of four seniors for the Dutch playing in their final competition. Peyton Bytnar, Rachel Sohn and Avery Woods will also be concluding their careers today. Sunday’s matches begin at 11:30 am.
First Round Results from The Battle at Bos:
Grinnell A 5, Wartburg 0
Emily Lackershire (G) def. Makenna Conrad, 7 and 6
Meilin Hoshing (G) def. Emma Smock, 6 and 5
Kavya Keshav (G) def. Natalie Ehlinger, 8 and 7
Vidushi Keni (G) def. Madelyn Bender, 8 and 6
Lauren Chen (G) def. Eleigh Davis, 9 and 7
Grinnell B 4, Central 1
Mackenzie Biggs (C) def. Amy Nguyen, 4 and 3
Sara Geisdendorfer (G) def. Peyton Bytnar, 1 up
Sara Meneses (G) def. Lydia Grond, 2 up
Mari Li (G) def Rachel Sohn, 7 and 6
Parker Perry (G) def. Parker Stout, 3 and 2
At-large matches
Jaden Smith (C) def. Ruby Hoch (C), 6 and 4
Avery Woods (C) def. Sophie Lunning (C), 5 and 4
Mickey Martens (C) def. Avery Woods (C), 2 up
Mickey Martens (C) def. Sophie Lunning (C), 4 and 3