Furlong fuels Dutch to league baseball split
Central College
CEDAR RAPIDS—Central College shortstop Mike Furlong (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) provided the offensive spark as the baseball team topped Coe College 2-0 Saturday. The Kohawks rebounded in game two of the Iowa Conference doubleheader, defeating the Dutch 3-0.
Furlong cracked a single in the third inning to get things started in the opener. Two groundouts advanced him to third base and he crossed the plate off a single from right fielder Jarred Lackey (senior, Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS). Furlong made noise again in the fifth inning, blasting his first home run of the season to left center.
“Mike had a really good day,” coach Adam Stevens said. “On a day where runs were tough to come by he did well and his home run was really the big play in the first game.”
Junior Joel Pulliam (Des Moines, Lincoln HS) held the Kohawks scoreless in the complete-game victory. He scattered five hits, struck out four and walked three, improving his record to 5-2.
“Joel really competed and got us out of a couple jams,” Stevens said. “He’s done all we’ve asked of him this season and we’re going to keep asking more from him.”
A two-out double in the fifth inning was the difference in game two. Coe loaded the bases with the help of two walks before center fielder Nick Stein punched a hit down the left field line to drive in all three.
Central outhit the Kohawks 5-3 in the matchup, but left four runners on base.
“Coe just had that one clutch hit,” Stevens said. “We stranded some players early in the game. We need to get a little more consistent offensively.”
Sophomore hurler Ryan Goetzinger (Mason City) was charged with the loss. Throwing the complete game, Goetzinger (4-3) gave up just three hits while walking four and striking out two.
“Ryan threw well today, but we haven’t given him much offensive support,” Stevens said. “He’s done a great job these last few starts and we hope to keep that going.”
Central committed no errors defensively.
The Dutch (17-12, 7-7 conference) complete the three-game series against the Kohawks (20-9, 12-5 conference) with a nine-inning matchup Monday in Cedar Rapids at 3 p.m.
