Pitching earns Central a conference baseball split
PELLA — Behind solid pitching performances, the Central College baseball team picked up a split Friday afternoon by winning the nightcap 4-2 following a 3-2 loss in the opener against Luther College.
Facing a Norse (9-5, 5-1 American Rivers Conference) squad averaging over six runs a game, The Dutch (5-9, 3-7 conference) held them to five total runs in 16 innings.
“I was just really proud of the approach we had in both games,” coach Matt Schirm said. “We were right there in the first game and had some bad luck. If a couple different plays would have went our way we could have pulled that one out.”
Ryan Riddle (senior, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) scattered four hits over 7.2 innings to pick up the game two victory. Nathan Schwanke (senior, Omaha, Neb., Concordia HS) secured the four-out save without allowing a base runner. Despite allowing only two earned runs while striking out five, Marcus Wenzel (senior, Chicago, Ill., Luther College North Prep) was saddled with the loss in the opener.
“Both Ryan and Marcus were on short rest after we he had to move our series back last weekend,” Schirm said. “They went deep into the game so I know they were both gassed. We’ve come to expect that when those two guys are on the mound we are going to be in the game.”
Tied 1-1 in the fifth inning of game two, second baseman Lucas Farren (senior, Yorkville, Ill.) roped a two-run double to left field to swing the momentum in favor of the Dutch.
“That was huge for us to get the lead there,” Schirm said. “With Ryan on the mound we felt pretty comfortable with that lead.”
Jon Rozeboom (senior, first baseman, Waukee) had two hits in the victory while catcher Trevor Kimm (senior, Urbandale) and shortstop Kyle Hauser (senior, Poplar Grove, Ill., Belvidere North HS) drove in the other runs.
Right fielder Landon Vander Leest (junior, Pella) had two hits in the opener.
The two teams close out the season Saturday with a noon doubleheader.
“Our goal is to win every series,” Schirm said. “Every series we’ve given ourselves a chance to d oo it, but we haven’t finished the job on day two yet. That’s my challenge to the team tomorrow. If they can just come out with the same attitude, effort and focus that they did today, we’re going to win more games than we lose.”
