Central Bats Heat Up in Arizona Softball Sweep
The bottom of the Central College softball batting order delivered a punch in helping propel the Dutch past Webster University (Mo.) 9-3 and Whittier College (Calif.) 5-2 Monday to open their spring break trip at the Tucson Invitational Games.
The 7-8-9 hitters in the lineup for the No. 23-rated Dutch (5-4) cranked out nine hits in the two games. Hannah Higgins strengthened her bid for the designated player spot with a 3-for-6 day, driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice. Right fielder Mariah Parton, the No. 8 hitter, had two hits and shortstop Carson Fisk, the No. 9 hitter, had four hits and a walk while scoring twice.
Those weren’t the only hot bats as Central rattled off 21 hits in the two games. Second baseman Haley Bach had three hits and a walk in the opener against Webster, scoring twice and driving in two runs. She added a hit against Whittier. Center fielder Emma Johnson had two hits and scored twice against Webster while third baseman Franie Burnett had a hit and drove in three runs against Webster along with a hit and an RBI against Whittier.
Pitcher Morgan Schaben was credited with relief wins in both games. She followed Sydni Huisman in the opener. Huisman surrendered three runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Schaben blanked Webster (8-6-1) over the final 4.1 innings, limiting the Gorloks to three hits and two walks while fanning five.
Schaben relieved Emma Beck against Whittier (5-5). Beck yielded two runs on three hits and six walks over 3.2 innings. Schaben (2-0) limited the Poets to a hit and a walk in the final 3.1 innings.
Central is back in action today, taking on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at 1 pm and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) at 3 pm.
Steinlage’s Pitching Sparks Central Baseball Victory
A nine-strikeout performance by starting pitcher Max Steinlage, propelled the Central College baseball team to a 9-1 win over Mount Saint Joseph University (Ohio) on Monday.
Steinlage gave the Dutch (3-6) six scoreless innings and nine strikeouts, while issuing five walks and allowing three hits. As a hitter, Steinlage was 0-for-4 but still drove in a pair of runs in support of himself. It was left fielder Chance Dreyer who came up with the biggest hit of the day with a two-run blast in the sixth inning. Third baseman Brayden Sawyer also had a pair of RBIs in the win, plating two runners with a first inning double. Dreyer and first baseman Declan O’Hare each had two hits. Second baseman Nathan Scragg came around to score three times. In relief of Steinlage, Parker Jones tossed the seventh and eighth innings and struck out a pair while allowing one hit and one run. Dreyer pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Dutch are back on the field today at 3 pm (EDT) for a nine-inning contest with Emerson College (Mass.).
Four Birdies for Central’s Pendergrass in Carolina Men’s Golf Tourney
Junior Kayden Pendergrass posted a team-low 78, but the Central College men’s golf team slipped a notch to ninth in the 11-team, 36-hole Hampden-Sydney (Va.) Tiger Invitational on Monday. Central did improve three shots and closed at 334-331-665.
Jacob Moffett was Central’s top overall finisher, placing 30th at 81-82-163, with Pendergrass at 89-78-167. Harold Dobernecker was at 79-89-168 with Cole McGriff at 85-87-172 and John Oltman at 88-85–173. Individual at-large entrant Tate Nelson shot 88-90-178 and Charlie Gaer had an 89-90-179.
The Dutch are off until March 25th-26th when they are at the Garn Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky.