Dutch open baseball season by rallying for victory
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — A seven-run seventh inning sparked the Central College baseball team to a 9-3 win in its first game of the 2022 season Tuesday against the University of Wisconsin – Superior.
Central (2-0) made it a sweep against the Yellow Jackets (0-4) with a 5-2 victory in the second game.
“I was really pleased with our energy and effort throughout both games,” coach Casey Klunder said.
Trailing 3-2 entering the final frame of the scheduled seven-inning opening game, Central connected for four hits and took advantage of three walks, three wild pitches and two fielding errors by Wis.-Superior to string together seven runs.
Lucas Farren (senior, second baseman, Yorkville, Ill.) was 3-for-4 and scored twice. Logan McCoy (sophomore, center fielder, Galva, Alta-Aurelia HS) and Colton DeRocher (sophomore, Sioux City, East HS) each had two hits. DeRocher drove in four runs.
“Farren was locked in offensively from the first pitch he saw,” Klunder said. “With many guys making their Dutch debuts or first starts, it was nice to have a veteran presence in the middle of the oder.”
Landon Vander Leest (senior, Pella) picked up the win in relief of starter Marcus Wenzel (fifth year, Chicago, Ill., Luther North College Prep) Vander Leest pitched the last three innings, striking out five and walking one on 41 pitches.
Game two’s winning pitcher was Declan O’Hare (junior, Los Angeles, Calif., Marshall HS), who struck out four and yielded no runs in three innings. Kurby Vowels (junior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) secured the save.
“Although we didn’t go too deep into what will be our bullpen, I was impressed with how all six guys competed on the mound,” Klunder said. “Each did some good things and each has a few things they can take away that can be improved on.”
Garrett Finley (junior, first baseman, DeWitt, Central DeWitt HS) was 3-for-3 at the plate in the nightcap, driving in one run. McCoy had two hits and two RBI.
The doubleheader was played at U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Vikings and started at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and lasted until 2 a.m. Wednesday.
“US Bank was an awesome place to play,” Klunder said. “Obviously, the start times are little goofy but that didn’t take away from the experience at all. It was a nice, fun trip and we had a nice contingent of fans that made the trip with us which made it more enjoyable.”
Central opens an eight-game swing in Florida on Sunday afternoon against Illinois Wesleyan at 2 p.m. That game will be played in Auburndale.
“We look forward to turning our attention to Florida,” Klunder said. “We hope to create more depth both offensively and on the mound and enjoy good weather.”
