Huisman hit gives Central softball win
In the lineup for her arm, pitcher Sydni Huisman pounded her first collegiate base hit in well-timed fashion as her two-out, eighth-inning single brought home the winner in Central College’s 6-5 softball victory at Coe College Tuesday. The Dutch were trailing in the nightcap, 5-3 after six innings, when the game was called due to darkness as the first game lasted nearly 3 hours. The second game will resume when Central returns to Coe for an additional contest April 27.
More concerning, however, was a serious injury to all-conference shortstop Daria Parchert. She collided with a Coe baserunner in the bottom of the sixth inning. Parchert is sidelined indefinitely.
Central trailed throughout much of the opener as Coe used three hits and a costly error for a 3-0 second-inning lead. Central tied it in the third inning as first baseman Megan Stuhr and right fielder Franie Burnett had RBI hits, but Coe added single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings. The Dutch forced extra innings with a two-run sixth inning highlighted by a run-scoring single by left fielder Emma Johnson.
Central appeared to have missed its chance in the eighth inning when Burnett was thrown out at the plate after a double by second baseman Lauren Birt. But Birt stole third and Huisman, who again alternated in the pitching circle throughout the game with Morgan Schaben, bounced a single into left field to take a 6-5 lead.
Huisman secured the win in the bottom of the frame. She improved to 5-4 after throwing 6.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on nine hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Huisman appeared briefly in the nightcap before giving way to Schaben, who threw 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while walking three and striking out one. The Dutch also got 2.1 innings of one-hit relief from Skylar Sadler.
After falling behind 1-0, the Dutch got Burnett’s first collegiate home run in the second inning. Coe took command with a third-inning grand slam but Central sliced the deficit to two on a 2-run single by center fielder Sara Tallman. Statistics from the suspended game will not be included in season statistics until after it is completed.
Central was already without injured third baseman Paige Roehlk but Wares got good news on her as she’s expected back soon. But the Dutch will have to find a new shortstop as they continue their 11-game, eight-day endurance test by next traveling to Indianola for a doubleheader with Simpson College Wednesday at 3 p.m., with another game there Thursday at 5 p.m. Simpson is 7-11 overall and 5-7 in the league.
Dutch women open spring tennis season
Starting out its spring season, the Central College women’s tennis team was defeated 5-4 while using 12 different players Tuesday afternoon.
Playing in its first dual match since October 22, the Dutch (5-4) took a different approach to their lineup. Coach Ryun Ferrell used his varsity doubles lineup from the fall and won two of three matches. Karleigh Schilling and Alyssa Lewton were 8-4 winners at No. 1 doubles while Sarah Schirm and Alex Griggs won 8-1 in the No. 3 slot.
Moving into singles play, Ferrell played six different players including four freshmen. Alli Krieder was a 2-6, 6-3, 6- 1 winner at No. 3 singles. Ashlynn Brant was a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 6.
Central hosts Simpson College Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
Mueller secures Central men’s soccer victory
On a windy day at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex, defender Brant Mueller found the back of the net to make the Central College men’s soccer team a 1-0 winner against Nebraska Wesleyan University. It was the fourth career goal for Mueller, putting his left foot into a loose ball at the top of the box in the 56th minute.
Central (2-2-1, 2-2-1 American Rivers Conference) picks up its second win after two losses and a tie in its last three fixtures. Several players are still missing with injuries and several more are playing through nagging injuries. Goalkeeper John Foster earned his second win, making one save.
The Dutch play at Wartburg College Saturday at 3:30 p.m.