Steward sensational in Central baseball split

Central Dutch Athletics

LINCOLN, NEB. — The beginning of the day looked bleak for the Central College baseball team after it fell 7-0 in the opener of its doubleheader against Nebraska Wesleyan University Tuesday but freshman right-handed pitcher Tyler Steward (Norwalk) delivered for the Dutch in a 12-0 seven inning victory in the closing game.

Steward threw five shutout innings, scattering three hits, walking one Nebraska Wesleyan hitter and striking out five to earn his third victory of the year.

Junior shortstop Garrett Saunders (Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in. Saunders scored a pair of runs and stole two bases in the win.

Joining Saunders with a trio of hits was junior center fielder Coy Moore (Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) after a 3-for-4 game while scoring two runs.

Senior third baseman Ryan Garrett (Aledo, Ill., Mercer County HS) went 2-for-5 and sophomore backstop Trevor Kimm (Urbandale) was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Game one starter Dylan Diveney (senior, Marshalltown) threw six innings, allowing five runs, three earned, surrendering eight hits, striking out seven hitters and walking two.

Kimm was 3-for-4 in game one including a double.

Central continues Iowa Conference play Friday in Waverly, as the Dutch begin a three-game series against Wartburg College with a single nine-inning affair starting at 6 p.m. with a doubleheader beginning Saturday at 1 p.m.