Central baseball team overpowers Grinnell
Central College
PELLA — The Central College baseball team’s defense was on display Wednesday, allowing just five hits and committing one error as the Dutch toppled Grinnell College 8-3 at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.
“It was a workman effort today,” said coach Adam Stevens. “We played really good defense. That’s become a staple of this team. The one place we struggled was walking too many guys. Obviously that’s something we don’t want to do.”
Sophomore Ryan Dusil (Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was credited with the win, striking out one and allowing three runs on three hits in four innings. Senior Mike Werkheiser (Stockton, Ill.) threw three innings, allowing one hit and striking out one and senior Bret Bell (Jewell, South Hamilton) struck out two in two innings. The trio walked seven batters in total.
Offensively, Central (13-3) jumped into the lead with two runs in each of the first two innings and added another in the fourth. Grinnell (5-12) kept pace with two runs in the first and one in the fourth, but sputtered down the stretch. The Dutch added one run in the seventh and wrapped up the scoring with a two-run eighth.
Catcher Josh Stanton (senior, Homer Glen, Ill., Lockport Township HS) was 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Center fielder Sam Stetzel (junior, Perry) and shortstop Mike Furlong (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) were also 2-for-4. Stetzel drove in two RBIs and scored one run while Furlong added another run.
As a team, Central compiled 10 hits.
“I thought we bunted well today and were firing pretty well on offense,” said Stevens. “We’ll take the win and look forward to an important weekend.”
Central visits Iowa Conference rival Loras College Friday night for a 6 p.m. showdown in Dubuque. The Duhawks are 8-8 with a 0-3 conference mark. Central is 3-0 in conference play.
