PELLA — On a windy day, the Central College baseball team capitalized on great pitching performances to outduel Coe College 9-2, 6-1 in Saturday's Iowa Conference twinbill.

Central (12-12, overall, 4-4 league) needed solid pitching performances from its starting pitchers Saturday due to a shortened bullpen and the team got just that.

Freshman righty Nicholas Long (Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) started game one and threw seven innings, giving up four hits, surrendering one run and striking out six and sophomore lefty Charlie Palmer (Chariton) continued the momentum in game two throwing seven innings, allowing five hits, giving up one run and striking out seven.

"Our pitching today was great," said coach Matt Schirm. "This was probably the best outing Charlie had all season. He was throwing first-pitch strikes and didn't have any walks."

Junior pitcher Kyle Crampton (Omaha, Neb., Millard South HS) earned a six-out save in game two, throwing two innings and striking out a batter.

Central came alive offensively early in the first game, scoring two runs in the first and followed with another run in the third.

The Dutch broke the game open in the middle innings, scoring six runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh.

Senior outfielder Seth Griffiths (Ottumwa) set the tone as the leadoff hitter, going 5-for-7 with two walks, including a double and scored four runs, senior second baseman Noah Stochl (New Hampton) went 4-for-9 with a double and three RBIs, junior first baseman Ryan Garrett (Aledo, Ill., Mercer County HS) had three hits in six at-bats and drove in a run and senior catcher Michael Reuter (Monticello) had his first homerun of the season in game one.

"We scored in five of the eight innings that we batted in in the first game and I was really proud of the way our guys approached each at-bat," said Schirm. "In the second game, we kind of struggled early on but then were able to put up four in the bottom of the eighth inning which gave us a nice cushion going into the ninth."

With the blusterous conditions with winds gusting to 40 mph, Schirm runs would be at a premium.

"Heading into today, I knew it was going to be a pitchers' day because of the wind," said Schirm. "I definitely didn't think we would have a home run hit today but I'm very happy that we did."

Central continues league play with a single game against Luther College Tuesday. The Dutch took two from the Norse (12-10 overall, 5-6 conference) Tuesday by scores of 8-2 and 10-2.

"We'd love to get a sweep," said Schirm. "We were swept earlier in the year by Dubuque and it'd be great to get that back."