Burnett walk-off gives Central softball sweep

PELLA— Central College squeezed all of the drama missing from game one into the final frame of the nightcap as Franie Burnett (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) laced a two-run double for a 6-5 walk-off softball victory over Grinnell College Saturday.

The Dutch, ranked No. 19 in Division III, hammered out 17 hits in a 15-1, five-inning victory in the opener.

But Central (17-3) had to scramble for the second win, as Grinnell took a 3-1 lead in the third inning. The Dutch seemingly restored order with a three-run fourth inning highlighted by a key two-run single by shortstop Carson Fisk (senior, Searsboro, Lynnville-Sully HS). Yet back came the Pioneers (9-7) with a two-run sixth for a 5-4 lead entering the seventh inning.

In the seventh, second baseman Haley Bach (sophomore, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) fought off a tough pitch for a leadoff single to right field and center fielder Emma Johnson (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) streaked to first with an infield hit before both raced home on Burnett’s double to right field.

“We were concerned coming in because Grinnell has improved a lot,” coach George Wares said. “Then when we won so decisively (in the first game), you just never know how they’re going to respond or how we’re going to respond. But give them credit. Their second pitcher (Kathryn Vermeulen) threw well. But give our players a lot of credit for continually bouncing back.”

Pitcher Sydni Huisman (senior, Treynor) notched both wins, improving to 10-1. She allowed one run on four hits over three innings in the opener, then got the second victory in relief, throwing the final two innings. She yielded a hit and a walk.

Freshman Emma Beck (Holland, Grundy Center HS) was the game two starter and was reached for three runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings, walking two and fanning five. Morgan Schaben (senior, Portsmouth, Harlan HS) pitched in relief in both games. She threw two hitless innings in the opener before allowing two runs on two hits in 0.1 innings in the second contest.

Central was outhit 11-9 in the nightcap but got two hits from Johnson, Burnett and Fisk.

But it was a Dutch-dominated opener, outhitting Grinnell 17-4 and putting up 15 runs in four innings. Megan Stuhr (junior, Sigourney) had four hits, five RBIs and two runs scored while Burnett, Bach and Fisk each had two hits.

“We’ve got a pretty good mindset right now,” Wares said. “And I think, offensively, we’re pretty confident in hitting and base running. Carson (Fisk), what a huge hit for her, to tie it after we were down 3-1 and then also her slide at home to give us the lead, so she was really big today.

“From top to bottom, we’re starting to like what we see offensively.”

Yet the games also left Wares with talking points for practices the remainder of the week.

“The coach in me says you’re not supposed to give up five runs,” he said with a smile. “In the huddle after the games, I was very brief. I said ‘Go enjoy it. I’m going think of all the negatives and pound them tomorrow.’”

Central has its final pre-conference action Saturday, with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire visiting for a noon doubleheader at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field. The Blugolds (9-7) are traditional playoff contenders.

“We have great respect for them,” Wares said. “Hopefully the weather will allow (the games) because these are really helping us get ready for the league.”