Central softball team rallies twice but splits
Central College
ST. LOUIS, MO. — For the second straight day, the No. 8 Central College softball team used a fifth-inning rally to spark a come-from-behind win, knocking off Augustana College (Ill.) 5-1 Sunday, but another Dutch uprising was stymied in the nightcap as they dropped a 4-3 decision at Fontbonne University (Mo.).
Shortstop Annie Sarcone (sophomore, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) was 3-for-3 in the opener and cracked her sixth home run of the year to tie Augustana (10-3) 1-1 in the fifth inning. Center fielder Holly Von Fumetti (senior, Johnston) doubled home a pair of runs as the Dutch plated four in the inning. Catcher Caitlyn Meyer (junior, Newton) added her third homer in the sixth inning to help make a winner of freshman pitcher Mallory Schulenberg (Kansas City, Mo., St. Pius X HS). Schulenberg, pitching in relief of starter Brie Haycraft (sophomore, Eldridge, North Scott HS) allowed six hits and one run in 4.1 innings, with no walks and three strikeouts as she improved to 7-0. Schulenberg threw 2.2 hitless innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
“We wanted to see what Mallory can do against this level of competition and she was really sharp,” coach George Wares said.
Haycraft allowed a run in the first inning but then settled down, Wares said. She yielded six hits in 4.1 innings with no walks and three strikeouts. Central had seven hits.
Central (17-3) was nursing a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning against Fontbonne (10-6) when freshman third baseman Danielle Glixman delivered a 3-run homer to put the Griffins up 4-2. Central battled back with a two-out, run-scoring single by second baseman Angela Davis (senior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) but had a baserunner thrown out to end the threat. The Dutch also put the potential game-tying run at second base in the seventh inning but came up empty.
“Fontbonne played well, but we left a lot of runners on base,” Wares said. “I think we just wore out a little bit.”
Meyer had a pair of doubles and an RBI in the game while right fielder Emily Te Brink (junior, Le Mars) had two walks with a run scored and third baseman Whitney Sowers (freshman, Marshalltown) singled and walked. Fontbonne outhit Central 8-7.
Von Fumetti added a hit in the game and showed progress at the plate, Wares said.
“Holly came to life a little today,” he said. “That was a big double against Augustana. That really broke it open. And she hit the ball well against Fontbonne, with a single and a line drive that was caught but hit hard. That’s encouraging.”
Haycraft (6-2) took the loss, pitching in relief of Rhianna Fleetwood (junior, Sycamore, Ill.) and Schulenberg.
While the Dutch were disappointed with the loss, it’s been a surprising season start, Wares said.
“If you’d told us six weeks ago that we’d be 17-3 overall and 16-2 against Division III competition, we’d have taken it,” he said.
But the challenging Dutch schedule now takes an even nastier turn. Saturday Central opens Iowa Conference play at Decorah against No. 4-ranked Luther College in a 2 p.m. doubleheader. The Norse were ranked No. 1 in Division III earlier this season. Then the Dutch travel to Cedar Rapids April 4 to take on second-rated Coe College in a league doubleheader, followed by a non-conference twinbill against perennial NCAA tournament contender Washington-St. Louis University (Mo.) at Pella April 5.
“I think we’re capable of being a very good softball team but we’ve got to get better,” Wares said. “Obviously we have a very difficult week coming up. We’ll work hard in practice and see what we can do against the teams that are picked to win the league.”
Saturday’s games at Luther will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) and can also be heard via www.kniakrls.com.
