TUCSON, ARIZ.—The Central College softball running game got into high gear Monday, with seven stolen bases in a 15-0, 5-inning whitewashing of Dickinson (Pa.) and an inside-the-park home run in a 7-2 triumph over Eastern Connecticut State.

The daring Dutch (5-1) also scored two runs on a force out while racking up 23 hits in the sweep at the Tucson Invitational Games.
Eastern Connecticut State, an old NCAA Division III tourney rival in the 1980s and early 1990s, hadn't faced Central since 1991. The Warriors broke on top Monday with two runs in the first inning on a walk, a passed ball and a pair of two-out bloop hits. But pitcher Karly Olson (senior, Winterset) limited them to just two hits the rest of the way to even her record at 1-1.

"In the first inning, Karly did what you can't do and that's get behind hitters and let the hitters control the count," Wares said. "Eastern has good enough hitters to go with the pitch and they took advantage of that."

Wares said he challenged his ace hurler to step up and she did so, starting at the plate.

"After that, her response was really good," he said. "She came back and led off the next inning with a base hit and everything she did from that point on was better."

Central's aggressiveness, including Olson's, helped tie the game in the third inning. The Dutch loaded the bases with one out and Olson ripped on one-hop shot to shortstop, resulting in a force at second base. But Ollson beat the potential double-play throw at first as one run scored and pinch-runner Taylor Sohn (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) never broke stride from second base, racing home with the tying run as the relay throw was late.

"They had an opportunity for a double play but Karly really hustled and then Taylor did exactly what she's taught," Wares said. "That was a big run, not just in tying the game but the way we tied it."

Olson delivered a run-scoring hit to highlight a two-run fifth. Then in the sixth, with a runner aboard, shortstop Emily Wilson (sophomore, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) lined a shot down the right field line, sprinting to third as the relay throw came in, only to see Wares waving her home. The throw to third was slightly off line and she was able to get her hand on the plate just ahead of the tag at home.

"Give her credit, she was hustling the whole way," Wares said. "With two outs we decided to try it. It's not something we're going to do with one out but the throw took the third baseman away from the base so I thought we had a chance."

Olson had two of Central's 10 hits, as did freshman third baseman Amanda Sigulas (Morton, Ill.), left fielder Tabitha Taylor (junior, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) and first baseman Abbie Voas (senior, Chanhassen, Minn.).

Senior Felicia Schulty (Wellman, Mid-Prairie HS), who had a pair of pinch-hits earlier, was given a shot as the team's designated player in the game, reaching base once in three at-bats. She also sees time as a pinch-runner.

"I thought Felicia stepped up," Wares said. "She's earned the opportunity."

In the circle, Olson allowed four hits and one earned run over seven innings, walking four and striking out four.

The Dutch emptied the bench in the runaway win over Dickinson, rolling up 15 runs in just three innings. Voas and second baseman Paige Dickel (junior, Norwalk) each had three hits. Dickel also scored three runs and drove in five with a single, double and her first homer. Voas had two of Central's seven steals in the game and had five hits on the day.

Among the reserves seeing action was junior outfielder Amanda Romero, a Tucson native, making a pinch-hitting appearance in her hometown, where she graduated from Sahuaro High School.

"Amanda was about 2 inches from a double," Wares said of a ball that landed foul down the left-field line.

Pitcher Mariah Fritz (sophomore, Tama, East Marshall HS) notched her second win in two days, scattering three hits with no walks and five strikeouts, needing just 73 pitches to complete the game's five innings.

"It was good for Mariah to get another win and keep building her confidence," Wares said.

Central completes the first half of its Tucson schedule Tuesday, meeting Greenville (Ill.) at 11 a.m. Central Daylight Time (9 a.m. Pacific) and MacMurray (Ill.) at 3:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Pacific). Greenville was an NCAA Division III tourney qualifier last spring and took a 3-2 record into a Monday afternoon game with Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.). MacMurray dropped its first two games of the season Monday in lopsided fashion.

Wares said there's a slim chance that third baseman Lauren Bagby (sophomore, Norwalk), a starter last spring, will return to action Tuesday after sitting out with injury. She'll at least be in uniform, but is more likely to play Thursday, following the team's Wednesday day off.

Her return will create some lineup decisions as Sigulas, normally a catcher, is hitting .500 through six games while filling in at third base. Wares said he's considering a number of options.

"It's a nice problem to have," he said.

A live audio webcast of Tuesday's first game will be available through www.kniakrls.com on KNIA3 and can be accessed directly at rdo.to/knia3.