Central recovers for softball split at Nebraska Wesleyan
Central Dutch Athletics
LINCOLN, NEB.— Again displaying some road resiliency, the Central College softball team rallied after a disheartening setback and secured a split of its Iowa Conference doubleheader at Nebraska Wesleyan.
Two ninth-inning runs gave Nebraska Wesleyan a 6-5 victory before the Dutch (24-8 overall, 9-3 conference) came from behind for an 8-5 win in game two. In all three of Central’s conference defeats, the Dutch have surrendered late-inning leads and tumbled in extra innings.
The split drops Central into third place in the league standings. Luther leads at 8-2 with Coe at 11-3.
After Central tied the opener 4-4 on an RBI single by right fielder Shaye Witte (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS), the teams were scoreless until the ninth when catcher Emily Walton (senior, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) tripled home the go-ahead run. Pitcher Mariah Fritz (junior, Tama, East Marshall HS) retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the ninth, but after a hit batter and a single, was lifted for reliever Annie DeVries (senior, Eldridge, North Scott HS). DeVries was then tagged for a two-run walkoff double, with the winner scoring on a close play at the plate.
“We just couldn’t get that last out,” coach George Wares said. “That was about as emotionally draining of a loss as we’ve had. It was really tough to bounce back.
“As we’ve said before, it’s a unique sport. You’ve only got 20 minutes to recover before the next game. You don’t have any choice.”
Fritz (11-5) was charged with five earned runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 8.2 innings.
Designated player Kaitlyn Andresen (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) had two hits, including a two-run first-inning single and a double.
“In the first game, our defense let us down,” Wares said. “We had some miscommunication. It was a struggle the whole day.”
Central trailed in the nightcap 2-1 heading into the fifth inning before striking for three runs and erupting for four more in the sixth.
“Things weren’t clicking for a while,” Wares said.
First baseman Amanda Sigulas (sophomore, Morton, Ill.) was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Shortstop Daria Parchert (freshman, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS) scored three runs and had two hits, with four hits on the day.
Center fielder Sara Tallman (sophomore, Pella) also had two hits and stole three bases on the day, tying the school season record with 37. The steals mark was set by Daniela Grob in 2000.
Left fielder Tabitha Taylor (senior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) had three hits on the day with two walks.
Tallman has joined Taylor on Central’s 100 career hits list with 104. Taylor has 145, ranking 17th all-time. Tallman also scored two runs Wednesday, moving into third place on the school season list with 46. Abbey Strajack set the record of 52 in 2015.
“Offensively, I thought we were solid,” Wares said. “We had some really good at-bats.
“Our 7-8-9 hitters had one of their better days. If that continues, that will make a big difference.”
DeVries (11-3) got the nightcap win, giving up five runs on 12 hits with five walks and a strikeout. She was relieved by Fritz in the sixth inning after Nebraska Wesleyan opened with four straight hits. Fritz notched her third save, needing to face just five hitters to secure the final six outs as Sigulas gloved a line drive at first base and pulled off a crucial double play.
Central remains on the road for its final two conference season dates, traveling to the University of Dubuque Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Spartans are 8-28 overall and 4-10 in the league after a surprising sweep at Buena Vista Wednesday, winning 4-3, 4-3. Like Nebraska Wesleyan, Dubuque got a pair of two-out seventh-inning runs to take the opener. Central holds a 63-6 lead in the teams’ all-time series and has won six straight against the Spartans. Wednesday’s Dubuque wins, combined with its earlier upset of Luther, caught Wares’ attention.
“In this league, there are so many up and down games,” he said. “You just never know. We’ve just got to keep plugging away. We’re still in the mix.”
