PELLA— After getting out to a 6-3 lead in game one, the Central College baseball team was outscored 7-1 over the final three innings to fall 10-7 in the opener before being downed 5-3 in the second game against Simpson College Tuesday.
The Dutch (7-19, 5-11 Iowa Conference) held the Storm (9-19, 6-11 IIAC) at bay for the most part in game one, limiting them to just three runs through five innings. The Storm broke open for four runs in the sixth to help push the game into extra innings. A three-run eighth inning provided the margin of victory in a 10-7 Storm victory.
The starting pitcher in the opener, freshman Billy Coppage (West Point, Iowa, Fort Madison HS) was strong most of the game, until giving up those four runs in the sixth.
"Billy really battled," coach Matt Schirm said. "After that third inning where he gave up a few run he came back and had a couple of better innings. I think he did what he needed to do to keep us in the game."
Central had 17 hits on the day and 11 of them came from its first three hitters. Leadoff man Garrett Saunders (freshman, Bonaparte, Iowa, Van Buren HS) and No. 2 hitter Spencer Gritsch (senior, Brooklyn, Iowa, BGM HS) each had four, while Ryan Bouwman (freshman, Bloomington, Ill., Normal Community HS) had three hits out of the No. 3 spot.
"All three of those guys have been fairly consistent all year long," Schirm said. "They get on base consistently, unfortunately we haven't been able to drive them in enough."
Game two starter Frankie Mauro (freshman, Des Moines, Doling Catholic HS) went 6.0 innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out five. However, he gave up an additional three runs on three Central errors.
"Frankie did enough to keep us in the game and give us a chance to win," Schrim said. "We just didn't enough offensively to help him out. We need to be able to win most of the games when our pitchers keep them to five runs."
Making his first varsity start at second base in game two was freshman Chris Riddle (Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) who doubled in the fourth.
"It was good to see him hit the ball hard out to right center field," Schirm said. "He's a guy that's been working really hard all year and deserved an opportunity, which he took advantage of. He did a solid job defensively as well."
Central stays at home for a four-game set with Wartburg, starting Friday at 1 p.m. at A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex baseball field.
