Central bats drive in two more baseball wins

Central College

MESA (ARIZ.)—The Central College baseball team kept its win streak alive Saturday, posting a 7-5 victory before racking up nine runs in the first inning of a 13-7 triumph in a doubleheader against Wis.-Stout in Mesa, Ariz.

Tied 5-5 after six innings in the opener, senior David Lakin (Clinton) pulled through for the Dutch. The second baseman hit a double, driving in Josh Stanton (junior, Homer Glen, Ill., Lockport Township HS) for the lead. Later that inning Lakin crossed the plate on a wild pitch to add a security run.

“Lakin had a good day at the plate and a good play in the seventh to help us win,” coach Adam Stevens said.

Seniors Anthony Miller (Davenport, Assumption) and Jarred Lackey (Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS) each added two hits. Lakin notched three.

Pitcher Michael Jontz (West Des Moines, Valley HS) recorded the win. Dirk Lindamen (sophomore, Ankeny) had the start and Caleb Rangel (senior, Rock Island, Ill., Alleman Catholic HS) also saw action on the mound.

Defensively, the Dutch had no errors.

“It was a really good baseball game,” Stevens said. “We executed well offensively, played good defense and found a way to win.”

Central started things off with a bang in the second game, collecting nine runs in the first inning and expanding the gap with two runs in the third and fifth innings. The defense held off a Blue Devils (0-2) comeback that included two home runs and a four-run fourth inning.

Mike Furlong (junior, Davenport, Assumption) connected for three hits, driving in three runs and scoring four. Miller also had three hits and three RBIs.

Senior D.J. Glasgow (Burlington) picked up the win throwing four innings. Bret Bell (junior, Jewell, South Hamilton HS) pitched the remainder of the game.

“We came out swinging—it was a lot like yesterday,” Stevens said. “Wis.-Stout is a good offensive team and they started to chip away at the lead but we hung on.

“I like the way our team competed today,” Stevens said. “But we’ve got a quick turnaround so we’ve got to be ready to play tomorrow.”

Central, improving to 6-1, takes a five-game win streak into a nine-inning matchup against Macalaster College (Minn.) at 9 a.m. (Eastern Time) Monday. The Scots are 2-0 heading into a doubleheader against Springfield (Mass.) earlier today.

Game one

Central College 0 1 0 1 1 2 2 7 9 0

Wis.-Stout 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 5 8 1

Leading hitters—C: Miller 2×4, Lackey 2×4, Lakin 3×3. S: Yaucher 2×4, Smolinski 2×2, O’Connell 2×4, Guida 2×2. HR—S: Smolinski, O’Connell. W—Jontz; L—Ewald.

Game two

Wis.-Stout 0 0 2 4 1 0 0 7 10 2

Central College 9 0 2 0 2 0 x 13 12 2

Leading hitters: C: Furlong 3×4, Miller 3×4. S: Giebel 2×5, Smolinski 2×4, O’Connell 2×3. HR—S: Giebel, O’Connell. W—Glasgow. L—Speltz.