Dutch baseball refocuses for game two victory

STORM LAKE — After losing game one in walk-off fashion, the Central College baseball team got it done in game two with an 11-6 victory over Buena Vista University Sunday.

The Dutch (13-21, 10-18 American Rivers Conference) led 5-1 in the final frame of the opener before the Beavers (17-19, 13-15 conference) scored five on a trio of home runs to win 6-5.

“I am incredibly proud of how our guys responded in the second game,” coach Matt Schirm said. “After such a tough loss in the first game, they came right back and competed hard just like they have all year.”

Lucas Farren (senior, second baseman, Yorkville, Ill.) sparked the Central offense in game two by scoring two runs and driving in two runs with pair of hits. He was walked and hit by a pitch twice to reach base five of his six plate appearances.

Also in the nightcap, Center fielder Tyler Sass (freshman, Lincoln, Neb., Southwest HS) scored three times and shortstop Kyle Hauser (senior, Poplar Grove, Il., Belvidere North HS) crossed the plate twice.

In 4.1 innings of work, Landon Vander Leest (junior, Pella) gave up six runs on seven hits. Caleb Evans (sophomore, Davenport, Central HS) took over in the fifth and stymied a Beaver rally by striking out six of the 21 batters he faced.

“Caleb did a great job in relief,” Schirm said. “He got us out of a big jam in the fifth and then pitched shutout ball the rest of the way.”

Kurby Vowels (sophomore, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) started game one and allowed four runs on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. Nathan Schwanke (senior, Omaha, Neb., Concordia HS) took the loss after giving up a air of solo home runs in the seventh.

“Kurby was outstanding in game one,” Schirm said. “He deserved to win the game. Give credit to Buena Vista, we didn’t give them the game, they earned it.”

The final regular season series for the Dutch starts Friday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Simpson College.