Central College softball team’s offensive explosion leads to two-game sweep
PELLA- In two high scoring games in which the Central College softball team scored a combined 24 runs, the Dutch walked away with a sweep of a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
In the opening game Central (11-3) led the whole way, including stretching the lead to 11-4 before winning 11-9. In the second game, the Dutch got out to a 9-4 lead, but the Pioneers (13-7) came back to tie the game in the top of the eighth, before Central scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to win 13-9.
“It was one of those days where you couldn’t have enough runs,” said coach George Wares. “I have to credit Wisconsin-Platteville for battling back, but I also want to credit our players for responding when they would come back.”
In the opening game Central got production from pinch hitters Emma Lenox (senior, Fremont, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) and Elise Evans-Murphy (sophomore, Sergeant Bluff, Sergeant Bluff-Luton). Both of them had singles that scored two runs, Lenox’s came in the second inning in a tie game and Evans-Murphy’s came in the fifth inning.
“Emma has done it her whole career, she came in and got a huge hit,” Wares said. “Pinch hitting is hard to do but both of them came through with clutch hits.”
Third base Hannah Higgins (junior, Macomb, Ill.) had a five-hit day, including the second game where she went 4-for-4 with four runs scored. She also had three RBIs in the two games combined. First base Addi Starr (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial) had four hits over the two games and in the opening game she had four RBIs.
“Addi has adapted to college pitching, and after a tough start to the season she didn’t give up on herself, and now she is really having quality at bats and getting results,” said Wares.
Pitcher Emma Beck (junior, Holland, Grundy Center HS) got the start in game one and she pitched 6.1 innings allowing three earned runs on six hits while also striking out four hitters. Including holding Wisconsin-Platteville to one hit over her last 3.1 innings. In game two Beck came in a tie game and allowed one hit in 1.1 innings to earn her eighth win of the season.
“Beck came in a looked like a closer,” Wares said. “She struggled at the start, they got to her early, but she had four really good pitch sequences to four different hitters to get us out of innings.”
As a team the Dutch totaled 25 hits, with 13 in game one and 12 in game two while also drawing eight walks in the two games combined. Second base Larissa Miller (sophomore, Ankeny) had three hits while also scoring three runs and added an RBI. Left fielder Emma Jensen (senior, Earlham) also had three hits, while also scoring four runs. Catcher Rylee Dunkin (sophomore, Hamilton, Twin Ceders HS) had two hits while also collecting three RBIs.
The Dutch have six games this week starting Tuesday when they welcome Buena Vista University to open its American Rivers Conference schedule. The doubleheader will start at 2 p.m.
