Luther Eliminates Central from American Rivers Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament

Taking on the top team in the American Rivers Conference, the Central College women’s tennis team fell 5-0 at Luther College Thursday night in the league tournament semifinals.

A slow start in doubles put Central behind from the start, and needing just two of the singles matches for a team victory, the Norse won at the #1 and #6 spots in the lineup to conclude the night. Madi Whalen recorded a 6-1 win in the second set of her No. 2 singles match before her match was abandoned after the team competition was over.

The Dutch conclude their season at 10-12 and graduate three seniors but return five members of Thursday’s lineup next season.

Offensive Surge Continues for Central Softball Team

Outscoring its opponents by a total of 26 runs, the Central College softball team swept a road doubleheader 12-0 and 15-1 at Buena Vista University Thursday.

The Dutch (26-7, 11-1 American Rivers Conference) piled up 27 runs, 28 hits, 17 stolen bases, and nine walks against the Beavers. Carson Fisk was 3-for-3 with three RBI in game two. In the second inning, she hit a deep drive to left center field and sprinted around the bases for an inside-the-park home run, the team’s second home run of the season. Hannah Higgins also had a 3-for-3 outing. Haley Bach and Emma Lenox had two hits in each game of the doubleheader and Mariah Parton had a team-high four stolen bases on the day.

Sydni Huisman was the winning pitcher in the opener, striking out three with two hits allowed in 4.0 innings. Emma Beck yielded just one hit and one walk as the starting and winning pitcher of the second game, also going 4.0 innings.

Central hosts Loras College Saturday at 1 pm in the final home doubleheader of the regular season.

Dutch Runners Show Out at Drake Relays Distance Carnival

Multiple new personal bests and a reset of a school record highlighted the first day of action at the Drake Relays Thursday for the Central College track and field team.

Six individuals in distance races and a relay team were in action for the Dutch on the first of three days at the Blue Oval. Noah Jorgenson retook the school record in the men’s 1,500 meters with a third-place effort in a time of 3 minutes, 45.40 seconds. Central’s other male entry Thursday was Caleb Silver in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, who crossed the finish line 12th in 9:03.19

In the women’s steeplechase, Caroline McMartin was third in 10:21.45, a new personal best time for her, while Addison Parrott was 20th in 10:50.80. Megan Johnson moved up to No. 2 all-time in the 5,000 meters with her time of 16:35.93 that placed her fourth. Peyton Steffen also had a new career-best time in the 1,500 meters, placing 12th in 4:32.29. Central’s women’s 4×800-meter relay team of Alyssa Mayhew, Hadyn Miller, Abby Alberti, and Riley Packer was ninth in 9:27.79

The Dutch have a handful of entries competing Friday at the Drake Relays with another large contingent at the Kip Janvrin Open hosted by Simpson College in Indianola.