WAVERLY — On a cold, dreary day the Central College baseball team dropped a pair of games to Iowa Conference leader Wartburg College 3-1 in 10 innings and 2-1 seven innings Saturday.
Originally a three-game home series against the Knights (25-10 overall, 16-3 conference),two games were moved to Waverly Saturday due to forecasted weather. The final game is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch Monday back at the A. N. Kuyper Complex baseball field at Pella.
"It's been a tough week for our guys with having to deal with all the different schedule changes but I'm very proud of the way they competed today," said coach
Matt Schirm.
Junior pitcher
Dylan Diveney (Marshalltown) started game one, throwing seven innings, striking out six, walking four, scattering four hits and allowing one run.
Freshman righty
Zach Edwards (Des Moines, Lincoln HS) relieved Diveney, throwing three innings, surrendering two runs and striking out one.
Freshman hurler
Nicholas Long (Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) received the loss in game two, throwing six innings, allowing two unearned runs and striking out three. Central fell to 18-18 overall and 10-10 in conference.
"Today, our pitching and defense were great, we just didn't do enough offensively to win," said Schirm.
Senior centerfielder
Jacob Hirst (Davenport, Assumption HS) connected on his third home run of the year to tie the opening game 1-1. Hirst finished the day with two hits after a double in the finale.
A spot in the six-team league tournament is at stake for Central with its magic number being one. A victory or a Loras College loss during the final week of play gets the Dutch back to the league tourney after missing out last season. The tourney will be played May 11-13 in Cedar Rapids.
"Making the conference tournament was the goal at the beginning of the season," said Schirm. "Once you make the tournament you have a chance. It comes down to who's playing the best and who has the deepest pitching staff."
Monday is Senior Day for Central. The team will honor its six seniors with a pregame ceremony. After a rough junior season going 10-30 overall, Schirm isn't surprised the senior class responded.
"I know all of the guys were disappointed with how last season went as juniors," he said. "The senior class has a ton of leadership. They were chomping at the bit last summer to get back on the field."
A webcast and live statistics for Monday's game are available at
athletics.central.edu beginning at 2:55 p.m.
