Lythberg fans 12, powers Central softball sweep
Central College
TUCSON, ARIZ.—Kiley Lythberg (senior, Mount Prospect, Ill., Prospect HS) knocked in four runs with three hits in the Central College softball team’s 10-1, six-inning rout of Husson (Maine), then came back to toss a four-hit shutout with a career-high 12 strikeouts in a 2-0 blanking of Schreiner (Texas) Wednesday.
That extended Central’s winning streak to eight games.
The Dutch (8-2) got off to a slow start against Husson in 90-degree afternoon heat before erupting for four runs in the third inning. A bases-loaded bloop hit into right field turned into a three-run triple for Lythberg. Catcher Kyrie Hale (junior, Lee’s Summitt, Mo., West HS) followed with an RBI single.
The Dutch broke it open with six runs on five hits in the sixth. Second baseman Angela Davis (junior, West Des Moines, Valley HS) knocked in two runs with a double to right field.
In addition to Lythberg’s three hits, Hale, left fielder Bethany Koskamp (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) and right fielder Emily Te Brink (sophomore, Le Mars) each had two hits.
Rhianna Fleetwood (sophomore, Sycamore, Ill.) improved to 4-0, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Brie Haycraft (freshman, Eldridge, North Scott HS) threw the final 2.1 innings yielding a hit and a walk while fanning two.
Central outhit Husson 10-3.
Temperatures moderated for the early evening clash with Schreiner and top pitcher Becca Hay. It was a pitcher’s duel for the first three innings, before first baseman Katie Tenboer (senior, Morrison, Ill.) lined a two-out solo home run to left field in the fourth. Lythberg followed with a single before pinch-runner Heidi Reburn (sophomore, New Albin, Kee HS) stole second and raced home on a bloop single by catcher Caitlyn Meyer (sophomore, Newton).
The Dutch defense also gave Lythberg a lift. Second baseman Angela Davis started a double play to end a Schreiner threat in the sixth inning. Then with two on and none out to start the seventh inning, Meyer picked off a runner at second base.
“We work and work on that and it got us out of a potentially big inning,” coach George Wares said of the pickoff.
Lythberg followed with two strikeouts to nail down the win, raising her record to 4-1. Central outhit Schreiner 8-4.
“I thought both pitchers threw well but Kiley was exceptional,” coach George Wares said.
The Mountaineers slipped to 3-10 but Wares knew they were capable of an upset.
“Their record is deceiving because of the strong league they play in,” he said. “They have a very solid pitcher who got some big wins last year. And the top of their order is pretty good. We knew it wouldn’t be easy.
“The home run was big in terms of giving us some momentum and we got the additional run right after that.”
` Thursday Central tackles Denison (Ohio) at 6 p.m. (Iowa time) and Marian (Wis.) at 8 p.m. Denison was off Wednesday and carries a 5-1 record.
“Denison had a big win against Wis.-La Crosse,” Wares said. “It will be a good challenge against a team that knows how to win. And they’ve got a very strong freshman pitcher.”
