Central scores comeback baseball win over Lawrence
Central College
PELLA—The Central College baseball team rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to score an 8-4 comeback victory over Lawrence University (Wis.) in the home opener Saturday morning.
The game’s start was delayed because of rain and the two teams traded leads until the Dutch broke things open in the sixth inning.
Down 4-3, Central loaded the bases with two walks and a single from designated hitter Andrew O’Toole (junior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS). Sacrifice flies from catcher Jace Ahrendsen (junior, Clarence, North Cedar HS) and shortstop Michael Jontz (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) drove in two runs for a 5-4 lead. First baseman Seth Carson (senior, Woodridge, Ill., Downers Grove South HS) crossed the plate on a wild pitch before center fielder Sam Stetzel (senior, Perry) drove in Central’s final run of the inning with a shot to center field.
“Our players executed in the sixth inning with good situational hitting and base running,” coach Adam Stevens said.
Central twice lost its lead as Lawrence battled back with two two-run innings in the third and fifth.
“We’ve done that a few times this year and give our players credit, they didn’t panic or flinch when we lost the lead and found a way to win,” Stevens said.
Jontz went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, putting tallies on the board in the first, third and fifth innings. He closed the game on the mound, giving up one hit in a scoreless seventh while striking out one and walking one.
“Michael did a lot of good things at the plate and on base and then came in and shut it down on the mound,” Stevens said. “He had a great day.”
Junior Judson McKown (Maple Plain, Minn., Orono HS) was credited with the win, allowing two hits and two earned runs in two innings. He struck out one and walked two. Ryan Goetzinger (senior, Mason City) had the start and fanned five batters in four innings while yielding two hits and two earned runs with three walks.
A scheduled second game was cancelled because of forecasted rain and unplayable field conditions.
The Dutch open the Iowa Conference slate Monday, hosting Loras College at 1 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field. The game is rescheduled from last weekend, which was called off because of snow. The doubleheader features one seven-inning game and one-nine inning game.
