Dutch baseball bats awake in opening doubleheader

FULTON, MO. — In its return to the diamond, the Central College baseball team piled up 20 hits and 19 runs to bag a doubleheader sweep against Monmouth College (Ill.) 7-3 and 12-5.

Playing on a neutral field, the Dutch (2-0) were thrilled to be back to competition.

“It was great to get on the field again,” coach Matt Schirm said. “We played a very clean first game. The second game wasn’t as clean. It seemed like we were pressing and trying to do too much at times, but I was happy with our energy and attitude throughout.”

Catcher Trevor Kimm (senior, Urbandale) and third baseman Declan O’Hare (sophomore, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) both went 4-for-9 in the doubleheader. Kimm, Lucas Farren (senior, Yorkville, Ill.) and Kyle Hauser (senior, Poplar Grove, Ill., Belvidere North HS) each had 3 RBI.

With his third hit, Kimm reached 100 career hits in a Central uniform.

Marcus Wenzel (senior, Chicago, Ill., Luther North College Prep) had six strikeouts in 5.1 innings to get the pitching win in the first game. Landon Vander Leest (junior, Pella) only allowed one hit on 3.2 innings of relief for the save.

“Marcus was in complete control,” Schirm said.

Kurby Vowels (sophomore, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) was the victorious pitcher in the second game after just 1.2 innings of relief in the sixth and seventh inning. He was the fourth pitcher the Dutch used in the contest.

“Our pitchers weren’t as sharp in game two,” Schirm said. “But they battled hard.”

Central plated 11 runs in the eighth inning of game two, including a two-run home run by Kimm and courtesy of several errors by the Fighting Scots.

The Dutch journey to Decatur, Illinois next Saturday for a doubleheader against Millikin University (Ill.) at 1 p.m.