Dubuque holds off Central baseball squad
Central College
PELLA—With just two players producing runs for the Central College baseball team, the Univ. of Dubuque hushed the Dutch offense as Central suffered 4-3 setback Saturday.
It was a pitcher’s duel most of the game, with both hurlers throwing similar complete-game efforts allowing eight hits and walking three. Dubuque’s Paul Krenger fanned 10 batters and Ryan Goetzinger (sophomore, Mason City) (4-2) struck out six.
“Both pitchers were outstanding and moved the ball around well,” coach Adam Stevens said.
Central (14-11, 4-6 conference) couldn’t muster hits at key times, stranding five runners on base. The Spartans (15-8, 5-7 conference) also caught the Dutch stealing three times.
“They found a way to shut us down,” Stevens said. “They stopped our running game and that had a big effect. We just couldn’t bring in runners when we needed to.”
The senior-led offense began with third baseman Anthony Miller (Davenport, Assumption HS) in the second inning with a single through the right side. He advanced to third on a single from second baseman Ryan Allison (Rock Island, Ill.) before scoring on a wild pitch. The two paired again for a comeback effort in the ninth inning. Behind 4-1 with two outs, Miller got on base with a single through the left side. Allison belted his first home run of the season to put the Dutch within one, but Krenger forced a ground out to end the game.
“We have to let a tough game like this go,” Stevens said. “Tomorrow is a new day and we’ll be better offensively.”
Central continues the three-game Iowa Conference series with a doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m. at A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex. A video webstream can be accessed through the Central athletics homepage.
