With a 2-0 victory in game two Sunday afternoon at Nebraska Wesleyan University, the Central College softball team claimed its 14th American Rivers Conference title and the right to host the conference softball tournament this weekend.

The Dutch (27-7, 12-2 conference) were handed an 8-0 loss in the opener against the Prairie Wolves but rallied with the shutout victory in game two. Central returns to the top of the conference for the first time since 2019.

Both teams were limited to three hits in the second game but Central was the only team able to scratch across a run. Hannah Higgins got the fifth inning started with a single and then advanced to second on a ground out. Megan Doty’s single gave the Dutch their first run of the day, scoring Higgins. Two batters later, Haley Bach reached first on an error, allowing Doty to score. Emma Beck had another complete game shutout in the circle during the nightcap, striking out seven while allowing just three hits and one walk. Sydni Huisman suffered the pitching loss for Central in the opener, going 4.0 innings and yielding eight earned runs on nine hits with one walk and one strikeout. The Dutch had just two hits in the opener and only had two runners reach scoring positions.

Central hosts Loras College today at 2 p.m. in the final home doubleheader of the regular season.