Five-run sixth fuels Central to 10-0 baseball win

Central College

FORT MYERS, FLA.—After five innings of scoreless baseball, Central College put up five runs in the sixth to roll to a 10-0 eight-inning victory over Principia College (Ill.) Sunday.

Second baseman Adam Ariola (Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) started the offensive fury for the Dutch, punching out a single to drive in left fielder Michael Jontz (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS), who got on base by a hit pitch and advanced by sacrifice and error. Right fielder Allen Mann (junior, Marshalltown) followed Ariola with a single to drive in another run. Later, catcher Max Seeman (senior, Panora, Panorama HS) singled, bringing in Mann and first baseman Seth Carson (sophomore, Woodridge, Ill., Downers Grove South HS), who also reached by a hit pitch. Making it through the batting order, Jontz brought in the fifth run with a walk.

“We faced a good pitcher today but came through in the sixth,” coach Adam Stevens said. “We executed well and came up with big hits to get things going when their pitcher was worn down.”

Central added three runs in the seventh inning and two in the eighth. Ariola and Seeman notched two hits apiece. Seeman had three RBIs and Ariola and Mann had two. Shortstop Mike Furlong (senior, Davenport, Assumption HS) crossed the plate three times.

Junior hurler Dirk Lindaman (Ankeny) held off the Principia (4-1) offense, giving up just one hit in 7.1 innings of work. He struck out a career-best 11 batters and walked three. Senior Mike Werkheiser (Stockton, Ill.) closed the game in the eighth inning, facing two batters.

“Dirk threw really well today and got us out of some jams early,” Stevens said.

Central (6-1) made no mistakes defensively, its fourth game of the season with no errors. The Dutch have posted three games with no earned runs.

The Dutch take a break Monday and return to the diamond at 2 p.m. Tuesday, facing Monmouth College (Ill.). The Scots are 2-1 overall.

“Our players are tired after playing four games in three days so tomorrow’s day off comes at a good time,” Stevens said. “Hopefully we’ll get rested so we can get back at it for the second half of the week.”