Dutch race past Monks for two baseball wins
AUBURNDALE, FLA. – Piling up 25 runs in just 14 innings, the Central College baseball swept Saint Joseph’s College (Maine) Thursday afternoon.
The Dutch (7-3) won the opener 11-6 before taking a 14-3 win over the Monks (5-2) in the nightcap.
From his No. 3 spot in the lineup, center fielder Max Steinlage (junior, Cedar Falls) was the catalyst for the Dutch offense. He had two hits, two runs scored and three RBI in each contest, thanks to matching two-run home runs in each of the scheduled seven-inning affairs.
“It was really nice to see Steinlage swing it the way he did today,” coach Adam Carey said.
Chance Dreyer’s solo shot in the opener and Dom DeLaPaz’s grand slam in the second game gave the Dutch four total home runs on the day.
Shortstop Garrett Guenther (sophomore, Grayslake, Ill., Central HS) had two hits in the first game and second baseman Jackson Torbit (freshman, Saint Louis, Mo., Webster Groves HS) had a pair of RBI. In the second game, designated hitter Caleb Douglass (senior, Windsor, Colo.) had two hits and third baseman Brayden Sawyer (junior, Grundy Center) had two RBI.
“Everybody up and down the lineup swung it really well,” Carey said. “We continue to put good at-bats together and take advantage of mistakes by pitchers.
Battling through a tough third inning in which the Monks tallied five runs, Mark Kenney (junior, Fennimore, Wis.) struck out eight in the opening game as the starting pitcher and earned his second win of the season. Cameron Moreno (freshman, Moline, Ill.) allowed just one earned run in 2.0 innings of relief.
In his first collegiate start, Bryer Wiley (freshman, Urbana, Center Point-Urbana HS) went the distance in the second game. He struck out three while scattering seven hits and allowing three earned runs.
“All three of our pitchers did a great job of filling up the zone,” Carey said. “Saint Joseph’s has a solid lineup and have been scoring a lot of runs here in Florida. It was pretty cool to watch Bryer compete the way he did today and get a complete game in his first start.”
The Dutch wrap up their trip to Florida with two games against The College of Saint Scholastica (Minn.) at 2:45 p.m. (EST)
