AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Central College junior pitcher
Adam Carey (Pella) pitched a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 win over Franklin & Marshall College (Pa.) in game one of a doubleheader however the team fell in game two 12-5 Saturday.
Carey allowed four hits, walked five batters and struck out six Franklin & Marshall batters (9-5).
"I'm so happy for Adam because he's worked so hard and is our most improved player," said coach
Matt Schirm. "He went out and competed today and willed himself to have a good outing."
Central (5-8) scored a run in the top of the sixth inning after sophomore shortstop
Garrett Saunders (Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) singled to left and was driven in by sophomore designated hitter
Chris Riddle (Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS).
"Chris has kind of grabbed on to that DH role the second-half of this trip and I have to credit (assistant) coach Deutscher for working with Chris on his approach," said Schirm.
The Dutch added an insurance run in the top of the seventh after senior third baseman
Zach Brown () singled and was driven in by senior outfielder
Seth Griffiths (Ottumwa).
The Diplomats never threatened in the seventh.
Central exchanged runs with Franklin & Marshall in game two until a three-run fifth inning pushed the Diplomats ahead 8-5. Franklin & Marshall added four runs in the top of the seventh.
Saunders extended his hitting-streak to 12 games with a homerun in the first inning and finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI, Griffiths went 2-for-4 with a triple and scored a run and senior outfielder
Jacob Hirst (Davenport, Assumption HS) went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
"Garrett's a special player and I'm sure he doesn't even know he has a hit streak because he's such a team player," said Schirm.
Central begins Iowa Conference play with a three-game weekend series against the University of Dubuque at Pella, Iowa with the first pitch at 3 p.m. Friday and the doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday.
"The conference is so tough top-to-bottom," said Schirm. "I'm just looking forward to the competition because it's fun every week. You know it's going to be a battle every weekend."
