Central outslugged in baseball setback
Central College
AUBURNDALE, FLA.—The Central College bats racked up six runs in the first inning but then fell silent as the Dutch suffered a 19-6 (7 inn.) setback to Benedictine University (Ill.) Friday.
The Dutch led 6-1 before Benedictine erupted for a seven-run second inning. The Eagles (1-0) scored in every inning and closed with three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to end in the game early. Benedictine outhit Central 21-5.
“We did some good things that first inning, but we were outplayed in every phase today,” Stevens said. “We had three freshman pitchers who were just overwhelmed by a good team.”
Matt Schissel (freshman, Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) started on the mound, giving up seven hits and seven earned runs in 1.2 innings. Ryan Deuel (freshman, Truro, I-35 HS) tossed three innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs. He struck out three and walked four. Mark Schroeder (freshman, Chariton) yielded 2 hits and one earned run with one strikeout in 1.1 innings and James Longo Jr. (junior, Ankeny) gave up six hits and four earned runs in one inning.
Central scored three runs on three hits in the opening frame and capitalized on two hit pitches, two walks and a passed ball. Second baseman Adam Ariola (junior, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS), designed hitter Andrew O’Toole (junior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) and catcher Jace Ahrendsen (junior, Clarence, North Cedar HS) each had an RBI.
The Dutch closed their spring break trip at 6-3.
“It was a tough way to end the trip but big-picture wise we did a lot of good things against some good teams,” Stevens said. “We showed positives in every phase of the game and with a tough schedule, showed we can compete with anyone.
“Right now, we just need to practice. We’ve played pretty much every day for over a week and we need to get back and slow down and get ready for the conference season,” Stevens said.
Central has a week of practice before opening the Iowa Conference slate Friday against Loras College at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex baseball field. The doubleheader of one seven-inning game and one-nine inning game will begin at 1 p.m.
