First-inning runs stymie Central in baseball doubleheader
Central College
PELLA—Quick scoring by Buena Vista Univ. held off the Central College baseball team as the Dutch suffered 7-2, 5-2 setbacks in an Iowa Conference doubleheader Tuesday.
The Beavers (22-13, 13-8 conference) took an early 4-0 lead in game one with a leadoff walk and string of four hits. They belted a two-run double to jump out in the nightcap and tacked on three runs in the third inning. Buena Vista outhit Central 18-13 and struck out 12 batters to quiet the Dutch offense for all but two innings.
“Buena Vista outplayed us in every way today,” coach Adam Stevens said.
Central (21-15, 11-10 conference) was shut out until the seventh inning in the opener when right fielder Jarred Lackey (senior, Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS) singled before advancing and scoring with two walks and a hit batsman. Second baseman Adam Ariola (freshman, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) singled to drive in the second run.
The Dutch had a quicker response for the Beavers in game two, compiling two runs in the fourth inning. Shortstop Mike Furlong (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) walked and advanced to third with a single from left fielder Caleb Rangel (senior, Rock Island, Ill., Alleman Catholic HS). Furlong scored on a single from third baseman Anthony Miller (senior, Davenport, Assumption) and Rangel crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
“I thought we competed better in the second game,” Stevens said. “We had a couple more hits with runners in scoring position.”
Ariola had four hits and Rangel and Lackey had two hits in the two games. Center fielder Sam Stetzel (sophomore, Perry) had two hits in the first game.
“Adam is doing a good job for us at the plate consistently, especially as a young player,” Stevens said.
Junior Joel Pulliam (Des Moines, Lincoln HS) fell to 6-3, giving up four earned runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts in the first four frames of game one. Ryan Goetzinger (sophomore, Mason City) had the second loss, yielding four earned runs on 10 hits and one walk. He struck out five in six innings to drop to 4-4.
Defensively Furlong had two assists and broke the school career assist record of 302 set by Justin Owens (2005-08). Furlong now has 303.
Central travels to Decorah for its last league matchup of the regular season, meeting Luther College for a three-game series starting Friday at 3 p.m. Saturday’s doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
Luther holds a 21-16 overall record with an 11-10 league mark after splitting a doubleheader with Wartburg College Tuesday night. Central won the complete series last season.
“We have some important practices this week,” Stevens said. “We need to refocus and let today go to play a lot better this weekend.”
