Burnett Walk-Off Gives Central Softball Sweep

Central College squeezed all of the drama missing from game one into the final frame of the nightcap as Franie Burnett laced a two-run double for a 6-5 walk-off softball victory over Grinnell College Tuesday. The Dutch, ranked No. 19 in Division III, hammered out 17 hits in a 15-1, five-inning victory in the opener.

Central (17-3) had to scramble for the second win, as Grinnell took a 3-1 lead in the third inning. The Dutch seemingly restored order with a three-run fourth inning highlighted by a key two-run single by shortstop Carson Fisk. Yet back came the Pioneers with a two-run sixth for a 5-4 lead entering the seventh inning. In the seventh, second baseman Haley Bach fought off a tough pitch for a leadoff single to right field and center fielder Emma Johnson streaked to first with an infield hit before both raced home on Burnett’s double to right field.

Pitcher Sydni Huisman notched both wins, improving to 10-1. She allowed one run on four hits over three innings in the opener, then got the second victory in relief, throwing the final two innings. She yielded a hit and a walk. Freshman Emma Beck was the game two starter and was reached for three runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings, walking two and fanning five. Morgan Schaben pitched in relief in both games. She threw two hitless innings in the opener before allowing two runs on two hits in 0.1 innings in the second contest. Central was outhit 11-9 in the nightcap but got two hits from Johnson, Burnett and Fisk.

It was a Dutch-dominated opener, as they outhit Grinnell 17-4 and putting up 15 runs in four innings. Megan Stuhr had four hits, five RBIs and two runs scored while Burnett, Bach and Fisk each had two hits.

Central has its final pre-conference action Saturday, with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire visiting for a noon doubleheader at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field. 

Dutch Suffer Home Baseball Sweep Against Dubuque

After the University of Dubuque escaped with a narrow 3-2 win in the opener, the Central College baseball team was swept with a 15-5 loss in game two.

After trailing most of the opener, Central knotted the score at 2-2 in the eighth inning after Colton DeRocher reached on an error and Caleb Douglass scored. Dubuque added a tally to retake the lead in the ninth. Central had two runners in scoring positions but could not send it to extra innings. Sam Staley took the loss in game after working three innings of relief, walking four but allowing just one hit and one run. Zach DeMarlie had a strong start on the mound for Central. In six innings of work, he scattered seven hits while walking two and striking out four. He allowed just a pair of earned runs. Chase Martin’s RBI groundout in the fourth inning was Central’s only other scoring play in the opener.

Central tallied nine hits in game two, led by two from DeRocher. Chance Dreyer had a triple and DeRocher, Garrett Finley and Martin all had doubles. Declan O’Hare had two RBI.

The Dutch spotted the Spartans a 5-0 lead in the first inning of game two after four of the five batters were walked before Dubuque hit a grand slam. Max Steinlage took the loss as a starter, giving up five runs in 0.1 innings. Mark Kenney came on in relief for 2.2 innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Landon Thiele tossed three shutout innings in relief, scattering four hits while walking and striking out one batter each. Brendan Short was the final pitcher of the day for Central, allowing two runs in the seventh inning.

Central fell to 1-4 in American Rivers Conference games and 7-9 overall and return to action Friday for the first contest of a three-game weekend series at home against Simpson College. The first game is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Friday and can be heard live on the KRLS3 stream at KNIAKRLS.com. Saturday’s games can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and 94.3 KNIA.

Ace! Central’s Dobernecker Holes Out for Strong Men’s Golf Finish

For the second time in his Central College men’s golf career, Harold Dobernecker scored a hole-in-one, sparking the team’s lowest individual round of the 54-hole Garn Championship Tuesday.

Dobernecker carded a 2-over-par 74 to close at 81-78-74—233 on the par-72 Champions Trace Golf Course, which is also the site of the NCAA Division III Championships May 16-19 as well as the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship. But it was an otherwise disappointing day for the Dutch who shot 313-310-319—942, still managing an eighth-place finish in a formidable 19-team field.

Dobernecker, who tied for 29th individually, aced the 183-yard, par-3 second hole. He previously scored a hole-in-one April 22, 2021 at the Bos Landen Golf Club in the Central Shootout. Kyle Gabos shot 79-75-81—235 while Lucas Wendel had 77-77-85—239. Cole McGriff shot 80-81-79—240 and Jake Moffett shot 77-80-85—242.

Central is off until the Illinois Wesleyan Invitational April 7-8 at Bloomington, Illinois. The Dutch were 10th in a 25-team field there last spring.