PELLA— The Central College baseball team came up just short in both ends of a doubleheader against No. 26 Wartburg College Friday, falling 8-5 and 5-2.
It was a tale of two games for the Dutch (7-21, 5-13 Iowa Conference) against the Knights (21-7, 14-2 IIAC). The offense was clicking in game one with 12 hits, while game two featured excellent defense and a pitching performance that kept the score low. Unfortunately, Central was unable to put those phases together in the same game.
"We have to put together a complete game," coach Matt Schirm said. "We just haven't done that enough this year. When we have been able to do it, we've gotten some wins."
Pitcher Matt Schissel (senior, Milan, Ill., Rock Island Alleman) went the distance in game two, limiting the Knights to five runs despite giving up 12 hits and allowing seven walks.
"Matt did a heck of a job," coach Matt Schirm said. "He struggled early, but really settled in towards the fifth and sixth inning. He was really solid from that point forward."
Central looked solid defensively in both games, but especially in game two, playing its first errorless game in nearly two weeks.
"I was happy with how we played defensively," Schirm said. "We made some good plays in the outfield and infield. We've kind of been up and down defensively for the last several weeks so for us to put two games together like that is big."
Providing the power for Central was designated hitter Kyle Crampton (sophomore, Omaha, Neb., Millard South HS), who connected for three doubles and a solo home run in the fifth inning of game two. First baseman Ryan Bouwman (freshman, Bloomington, Ill., Normal Community) also had three hits on the day.
"We hit the ball pretty well, especially in the first game." Schirm said. "I think we did what we needed to do offensively."
Another opportunity against the Knights looms tomorrow with a doubleheader on Senior Day for Central's seven seniors starting at 1 p.m.
"We're battling." Schirm said. "We're continuing to work hard, our guys are fighting. There's definitely no quit in this group."
