CHICAGO, ILLINOIS— A rare walk-off win by a suicide squeeze bunt was the first of two defeats for the Central College baseball team in 5-4 and 11-4 losses Saturday at the University of Chicago (Ill.).
           
Heading into the bottom of the seventh in game one, the Dutch (10-14, 1-7 Iowa Conference) were holding on to a 4-3 lead. A two-out wild pitch by relief pitcher Tyler Steward (freshman, Norwalk) knotted the game at 4-4. The Maroons (12-7) rolled the dice with a suicide squeeze bunt that worked well enough to push the game-winning run across the plate.
           
Despite walking six batters, game one's starting pitcher Tanner Wood (junior, Pella) held Chicago to three runs while notching a single strikeout. Wood was given a no-decision as Steward took the loss.
           
"I was really happy with Tanner's performance," coach Matt Schirm said. "He struggled to find the zone a little in the first inning but he did everything we needed him to do in order to win the game."
           
Starting both ends of the doubleheader at third base, senior Ryan Garrett (Aledo, Ill., Mercer County HS) registered hits in each game. He scored a run in the opener and drove in a pair of runs in the nightcap.
           
"Ryan's really given us a spark the last couple of games he's played," Schirm said. "He's a senior who's been patient this year and taking advantage of this opportunity."
           
After going 1-for-11 in his three last starts, shortstop Garrett Saunders (junior, Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) had two hits in each contest Saturday with a pair of runs and an RBI in the nightcap.
           
"He's back on track a little bit," Schirm said. "We need him to get on base to continue to make things happen with our offense."
           
The Maroons raced out a 6-0 lead after two innings against starting pitcher A.J. Pierce (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) and controlled the game the rest of the way for an 11-4 win.
           
"We just got done big in the first couple of innings and it's more of a credit to them for hitting the ball well," Schirm said. "We gave up some free bases which made it get out of hand. We didn't do enough offensively to stay in the game."
           
Central will complete a three-game series against Luther College Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Decorah. The Norse (16-6, 6-4 Iowa Conference) swept the Dutch 4-3 and 4-1 Thursday in Pella.