Central outslugged in baseball losses

WAVERLY — Pounding out 21 hits in the doubleheader only yielded eight runs for the Central College baseball team as it was swept 15-7, 11-1 against Wartburg College Monday afternoon.

The Knights (6-8, 4-4 American Rivers Conference) had 26 hits on its way to 26 runs, including 12 extra-base knocks. The Dutch (4-8, 2-6 conference) only managed eight total runs despite the 21 hits.

“We hit the ball well enough to win the first game,” coach Matt Schirm said. “We just didn’t pitch or play defense well enough.”

Jared Kampf (junior, Peoria, Ariz., Mountain Ridge HS) and Landon Vander Leest (junior, Pella) were the leading hitters for the Dutch with 4-for-7 performances. Vander Leest drove in three runs and had a home run and a triple.

“Landon’s home run was big for us,” Schirm said. “We had fallen behind and that put us back on top.”

Getting his first start of the season, second baseman Chris Hensley (senior, Ottumwa) was 2-for-3 in game two.

“I can’t say enough about Chris,” Schirm said. “He hasn’t really played at all this year and we called his name after a couple of injuries and he came right in with some good at-bats. He’s ready for whatever role we put him in.”

Reliever Landon Thiele (sophomore, Moline, Ill.) took the pitching loss in game one while starter Drew Coffman (sophomore, Grinnell) was losing pitcher in game two. Eight different pitchers allowed 17 free passes with 14 walks and three hit batsmen. Central committed four defensive errors.

“We gave up too many free bases,” Schirm said. “We had few defensive miscues and too many walks.”

Central hosts Luther College for four games this weekend, starting with a twinbill Friday at 1 p.m.

“We need to get healthy after a few injuries,” Schirm said. “Luther will be just as good or better than Wartburg. They put a lot of pressure on teams on the bases. It’s going to be a big challenge, we’ll have to play a lot better to win that series.”