Dutch drop two on the road in baseball

Central College

DUBUQUE — A slow offensive day was too much for the Central College baseball team to overcome as they were swept 6-2 and 9-2 on Friday against the University of Dubuque.

Even though they were able to pound out 14 hits in the doubleheader, the Dutch (8-26, 5-19 Iowa Conference) offense was only able to plate four runs against the Spartans (17-17, 10-12 IIAC).

“Our offense was poor today for the most part,” coach Matt Schirm said. “We didn’t have enough quality at-bats strung together.”

Catcher Michael Reuter (junior, Monticello) provided the offensive spark in both ends of the doubleheader with matching 2-for-4 performances, adding a double in each game.

“He looked good out there,” Schirm said. “He hit the ball hard several times and put together several good at-bats today.”

Shortstop Garrett Saunders (freshman, Bonaparte, Iowa, Van Buren HS) and first baseman Ryan Bouwman (freshman, Bloomington, Ill., Normal Community HS) each had 2 hits in the second game with Saunders scoring a run as well.

Matt Schissel (senior, Milan, Ill., Rock Island Alleman HS) took the loss on the mound in game two, despite allowing just four earned runs while scattering 10 hits across 7.0 innings.

“He pitched a lot better than the score indicated,” “We played pretty poor defense behind him. He deserved better than what he got.”

Forecasts calling for rain all day Saturday pushed the second day of the weekend series to Sunday in Dubuque at 1 p.m.