Central outlasts Buena Vista for softball sweep
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—Six hits from shortstop Daria Parchert (sophomore, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS) and an exhausting day’s work from pitcher Mariah Fritz (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS) helped lift the Central College softball team to a 7-6, 6-4 sweep of Buena Vista University Tuesday.
Less than 48 hours after tossing nearly 10 innings in a sweep at Simpson College Sunday, Fritz (7-4) cranked out 223 pitches over 13.2 innings Tuesday. She gave up four earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts in the opener and four runs on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in the second game. The Dutch improved to 12-4 overall and 4-0 in American Rivers play.
“That was one of the better pitching performances she’s had,” coach George Wares said. “You just don’t see that today, to throw that many pitches. But she just kept getting outs and we were getting her some run support.”
Fritz had to endure a Buena Vista assault that included two opening-game home runs by third baseman Kate Lesmeister as the Beavers (14-9 overall, 0-4 conference) struck for three seventh-inning runs to tie it 6-6.
“Buena Vista really swings the bat. That’s their strength. They’re a very good hitting team, which makes her performance even more impressive.”
But Central responded in the bottom of the seventh as second baseman Kaitlyn Andresen (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) reached on an error and aggressively took second base on the play. A walk to left fielder Shaye Witte (junior, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) followed and third baseman Lauren Bagby (senior, Norwalk) smartly pushed a bunt to a hole in the rotating defense for a single to load the bases. Parchert then singled to left field for the walkoff win.
“Lauren’s bunt was probably the play of the inning,” Wares said.
Parchert was 4-for-4 in the opener and 6-for-7 on the day, raising her average to .389.
“She’s a player,” Wares said. “She’s still a little immature. When she makes a mistake she sometimes loses sight of where she is and she sometimes tries too hard, but I wouldn’t trade her. She plays a really good shortstop and she’s getting in a good rhythm defensively. We need that.”
Right fielder Sadie Baugher (senior, Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) had four hits, including her second home run in three days.
“I’m happy for her,” Wares said. “ There’s a player who’s done everything. She’s a classic example of what we want. We’ve moved her everywhere but she’s selfless.
“And the home run wasn’t a fluke. She drove it deep. She had pretty good at-bats the whole day.”
Andresen had three hits and two RBIs, sending her average to .442 with a team-high 14 RBIs.
Fritz did get some brief relief help from Danielle Riley (senior, Afton, East Union HS) in the sixth inning of the second game, as she faced three batters before Fritz returned. Wares said he liked the way Fritz was throwing but he’s confident in Riley as well.
“She’s definitely good enough,” he said. “We’re going to need her, obviously.”
The schedule ramps up for the Dutch, who are slated to play 20 games in 22 days, starting with a non-conference twinbill Friday at 1 p.m. against North Central College (Ill.) in Naperville, Illinois. The Cardinals are 15-3. It’s a daunting stretch, but Wares is encouraged by Central’s recent play.
“It’s a good start,” he said. “The players are doing a good job of staying the course.”
