Central unleashes softball bats to extend streak
Central College
TUCSON, ARIZ.—Amid a flurry of hits, the No. 11-ranked Central College softball team extended its winning streak to 12 games at the Tucson Invitational Games Friday.
The Dutch (12-2) racked up 28 hits in defeating Otterbein (Ohio) 5-1 and Carleton (Minn.) 14-1 (5 innings).
Perhaps more significantly, Central got complete-game performances from pitchers not named Kiley Lythberg (senior, Mount Prospect, Prospect HS). Lythberg, Central’s all-region ace, restricted her activity to serving as designated player while giving her right arm a needed break. Brie Haycraft (freshman, Eldridge, North Scott HS), in her first collegiate start, held Otterbein (1-3) without an earned run, allowing five hits in seven innings with no walks and three strikeouts as she raised her record to 2-1. Otterbein’s first three batters of the game reached against Haycraft, who then retired 15 of the next 16 hitters.
In the nightcap, Rhianna Fleetwood (sophomore, Sycamore, Ill.) yielded an unearned first-inning run before settling down. She gave up four hits over five innings with no walks and four strikeouts, improving to 6-0.
“I thought Brie gave by far her best performance thus far,” coach George Wares said. “And after the first inning, Rhianna got stronger and stronger. I think she’s finally starting to take control and some ownership of her position. That helps us a lot.”
Meanwhile second baseman Angela Davis (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) had five hits in the two games, including a 3-for-3 effort against Otterbein. First baseman Katie Tenboer (senior, Morrison, Ill.) had four hits and five RBIs, with a two-run homer against Carleton. Left fielder Bethany Koskamp (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) had four hits and scored three runs.
Central also got a lift against Carleton (0-4) from catcher Kyrie Hale (junior, Lee’s Summit, Mo., West HS), with two doubles and a triple, driving in two runs and scoring twice.
“Kyrie was really good,” Wares said. “We think she’s been swinging it well, although she hasn’t had as many at-bats as (catcher) Caitlyn Meyer (sophomore, Newton). She had three quality at-bats tonight.”
The Dutch batted around in two innings against Carleton, putting up nine runs in the fourth to put the game away. Central outhit the Knights 17-4.
Central wraps up its 16-game Arizona trip Saturday, taking on St. Catherine (Minn.) at 4 p.m. (Iowa time) and North Central (Ill.) at 6 p.m. North Central has been an NCAA Division III tourney contender in recent years and is picked to place second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Cardinals opened the season with a pair of wins Friday.
“Our goal is to get a couple of regional wins (Saturday) and then get some needed time off to rest before we start the Iowa portion of our schedule,” Wares said.
An audio webcast of Central’s game with North Central will be available through www.kniakrls.com and can also be accessed through www.central.edu/athletics. The 6 p.m. start time is approximate, as numerous games are being played at the Lincoln Park complex and start times are frequently delayed.
