Central Softball Team Picks Up Two Big Wins Against Wartburg

The Central College softball team swept a doubleheader against American Rivers Conference-leading Wartburg College on Tuesday. The Dutch (22-6, 7-3 American Rivers) battled for a 1-0 win in 10 innings in the opening game, followed by an 8-5 win in the second game.

Emma Beck pitched a complete game shutout in the first game, tossing all 10 innings while allowing only eight hits and two walks while also adding a strikeout. The Dutch totaled nine hits and drew eight walks but left 12 runners on base. Addi Starr had the game winning RBI single in the top of the 10th inning. Starr and Hannah Higgins each had two hits in the game, and Higgins added the only run scored in the opener.

In the second game of the day, Central scored its eight runs on 17 hits while also drawing four walks. Mariah Parton was 4-4 while also scoring three runs and adding two RBIs. Like the first game, Starr and Higgins both had two hits, with Starr also scoring a run. Haley Bach and Emma Jensen both had two hits as well, with Bach scoring a run and providing three RBIs and Jensen adding an RBI. Rylee Dunkin reached base safely six times in the two games, collecting two hits and drawing four walks. Pitcher Jadyn Huisman earned her fourth win of the season in the second game, going 5.2 innings and limiting the Knights to two runs on two hits to finish the game.

The Dutch will hit the road again on Saturday, traveling to Dubuque to take on Loras in a doubleheader at 1 pm.

Central Falls to Loras in A-R-C Tournament

The Central College women’s tennis team lost 4-3 in the first round of the American Rivers Conference tournament against Loras College on Tuesday.

The Dutch earned the doubles point winning at #1 and #3. Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney and Becca Vala won 6-1 at #1 and Madi Whalen and Keleigh Hall won 6-4 at #3. The Duhawks won four of the six singles matches to secure the win. Vala won her match 6-3, 6-0 and Emily Blom won 6-1, 6-0. The match was 3-3 as Mahoney’s match at #1 singles went into a third set. Mahoney lost the first set 6-3, before winning 6-2 in the second set but ultimately fell 6-4 in the tiebreaker.

The match ended the season for the Central women’s tennis team, who finished 10-13 overall and 5-3 in the conference.

Central Men’s Tennis Team Takes Down Buena Vista

The Central men’s tennis team held Buena Vista University to only 14 games won in the 12 sets in the singles matches during a 7-0 win on Tuesday.

The Dutch earned the doubles point by sweeping the matches. AJ Wilkins and Ayden Fletcher at #1 and Jack Briggs and Benny Ramker at #2 both won their matches 6-0. Alex Slaymaker and Travis Subbert completed the sweep winning 6-4 at #3. Fletcher stayed undefeated on the day winning 6-1, 6-3 at #1 singles and Briggs won 6-0, 6-3 at #2. Wilkins and Slaymaker both won 6-1, 6-0 at #3 and #5. Ramker won his match 6-1, 6-1 at #4 and Subbert won 6-2, 6-1 at #6.

The Dutch will finish off their regular season Friday, playing two matches in Dubuque. The squad will take on the University of Dubuque at 10 am and Loras College at 4 pm.