Central escapes in ninth inning to secure softball sweep
Central Dutch Athletics
DUBUQUE—Central College dodged yet another final-inning upset bid and kept its Iowa Conference softball title hopes alive with a sweep at the University of Dubuque Saturday.
The Dutch pulled out a 7-6, nine-inning triumph in the opener after surrendering a three-run seventh-inning lead, then coasted to a 9-0, six-inning nightcap victory.
No. 16-rated Central (26-8 overall) is 11-3 in league play, tied for the top spot with Coe College while No. 12 Luther College is even in the loss column at 9-3. Central still must travel to Decorah Tuesday to take on Luther to complete the regular-season slate while the Norse must also tangle with Coe at home Sunday.
All three of Central’s league losses have come in extra innings after giving up a late lead and the Dutch were coming off a split at Nebraska Wesleyan University Wednesday in which they were hit with a pair of two-out ninth-inning runs to drop the opener. Saturday’s first game was following the same disturbing script as Central entered the seventh inning seemingly in command, up 4-1, only to see Dubuque (8-30 overall, 4-12 conference) strike for three to force extra innings and narrowly missed a game-winning home run.
“It felt like déjà vu,” coach George Wares said. “It happened so fast.”
But designated player Sadie Baugher (junior, Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) singled and scored to highlight a three-run ninth inning Dutch rally. Dubuque battled back again, striking for a run on an error and a double off starter Mariah Fritz (junior, Tama, East Marshall HS) but this time, pitcher Annie DeVries (senior, Eldridge, North Scott HS) answered the call. She was tagged for an RBI double before getting a game-ending double play as right fielder Shaye Witte (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) threw out a runner trying to advance to third base after a fly ball, giving DeVries her first save.
DeVries (12-3) then tossed the six-inning four-hitter in the second game, her second shutout of the season. She yielded no walks while striking out two.
Fritz (12-5) got the win in the opener, allowing four earned runs on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts. The Dutch committed four errors.
“There were some hard-hit balls that we didn’t attack, and we threw it around a little bit,” Wares said. “It should have been 4-1, 9-0, that would have been a lot cleaner. But Dubuque battled and battled. Give them some credit. It was the last day of their season and they played inspired.”
Central banged out 15 hits, although 14 were singles. First baseman Amanda Sigulas (sophomore, Morton, Ill.) drove in two runs.
Tallman steals record–Center fielder Sara Tallman (sophomore, Pella) established a new school season stolen base record in the opener. She swiped four bases on the day and has 41, topping Daniela Grob’s previous mark of 37 set in 2000. Entering Saturday’s action, Tallman was tied for fourth in Division III in stolen bases per game. She also continued her ascent up the school career stolen base charts with 65, tied for seventh with more than two seasons remaining.
“We’re trying to be somewhat selective in when she runs, but when she gets on base, it’s like a double,” Wares said. “She’s a threat.”
Tallman also ranked 10th nationally in runs scored per game entering Saturday and has 47 for the season, third on Central’s all-time list. Abbey Strajack scored 52 in 2015.
Central added 14 hits in the nightcap as shortstop Daria Parchert (freshman, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS) was 4-for-4 with a double and a triple. Left fielder Tabitha Taylor (senior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) had four hits on the day while Tallman, Sigulas, designated player Kaitlyn Andresen (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) and third baseman Lauren Bagby (junior, Norwalk) each had three hits.
Wares was again encouraged by the offense from the bottom of the batting order as Parchert, Sigulas and Bagby had a combined 11 hits. They’d been struggling much of the year.
“That’s a good sign that we’re getting that out of 7-8-9 (in the order),” he said.
Central stole seven bases in the two games and has 123 for the year. Entering the day,
the Dutch ranked fourth in Division III with 3.59 steals per game. They were also 33rd in runs scored with 6.84 per game and upped that average to 6.91. Central has a .335 team batting average.
Central has a non-conference doubleheader with Monmouth College Monday at 3 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field. The Scots were 19-15 after an 8-2, 12-0 sweep of Beloit College (Wis.) Saturday. They must travel to De Pere, Wisconsin to take on St. Norbert College (Wis.) Sunday before making the long trek to Pella.
Having non-conference games the day before the pivotal league doubleheader is not ideal, Wares said, but Tuesday’s games were originally slated to be played April 17, and many teams in the Midwest have had games bunched due to the extended stretch of winter weather earlier.
“It’s there and we’ll play it,” Wares said of Monday’s twinbill. “Obviously we want to win the league, but in terms of our won-loss record and getting into the NCAA tournament, the Monmouth games are no different. They’re equally important.”
The teams last met in 2009 and Central has a 3-0 lead in the all-time series.
A video webstream and live stats of Monday’s action can be accessed through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu.
