Dutch defense falters in baseball defeat

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — After jumping out to an early 3-0 lead the Central College baseball team had things come unraveled after a season-high five errors in a 21-9 loss to Buena Vista University Saturday afternoon.

“Very disappointed with how we played today,” said coach Matt Schirm. “We could have been better in every phase of the game. With the way conditions were today we needed to be able to capitalize offensively and we weren’t able to defend very well today.”

Central (10-10, 1-5 Iowa Conference) scored three of its runs in the opening frame after sophomore backstop Trevor Kimm (Urbandale) reached on a RBI fielder’s choice by the shortstop. Kimm scored two batters later when sophomore left fielder Joe Rebik (Marshalltown) lifted a ball into the 25+ mph winds and watched it soar over the left field fence.

Buena Vista (8-11, 4-2 Iowa Conference) tied the contest in the third inning with all three runs being unearned. The Dutch responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after a solo home run from senior designated hitter Kyle Crampton (Omaha, Neb., Millard South HS) and junior second baseman Chris Riddle (Omaha, Neb., Mt. Michael HS) scored on a double steal play to push the lead to 5-3.

The Beavers put the game out-of-reach in the last four innings scoring 18 runs, including eight in the final frame.

Freshman pitcher AJ Pierce (Ankeny, Centennial HS) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs while walking two and plunking another.

Sophomore starter Zach Edwards (Des Moines, Lincoln) threw three innings, scattering two hits, allowing three unearned runs, walking three and striking out four Beavers.

“I thought Zach threw really well today but our defense let him down today,” said Schirm. “The errors that we had resulted in Zach’s pitch count rising.”

Central returns to the field Tuesday with a doubleheader against Luther College beginning at 1 p.m. in Pella.