CEDAR RAPIDS — Mother Nature allowed the Central College baseball team enough time to get its road Iowa Conference twinbill in against Coe College in Cedar Rapids but the Dutch fell 9-3 and 9-0.
Central (16-20, 7-13) garnered 12 hits in the opening game but just three in the finale while Coe (21-14, 13-6) managed 13 in both games.
Sophomore left fielder Joe Rebik (Marshalltown) was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in the opening loss. Senior third baseman Ryan Garrett (Aledo, Ill., Mercer County HS) was 2-for-5 with an RBI, junior shortstop Garrett Saunders (Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) went 2-for-5, junior center fielder Coy Moore (Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) had three hits, including a double and two RBIs and junior right fielder Tanner Wood (Pella) was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Senior starting pitcher Dylan Diveney (Marshalltown) didn't have his normal ace stuff, throwing just two innings, allowing seven runs, surrendering nine hits, walking two and striking out a pair. Freshman reliever Ryan Riddle (Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) threw four innings, allowing just one hit and struck out one.
The Dutch were stymied in game two offensively with Saunders, sophomore backstop Trevor Kimm (Urbandale) and junior first baseman Ryan Bouwman (Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) each collecting one hit in the nightcap.
Freshman righty Tyler Steward (Norwalk) threw five innings, allowing three runs, scattering five hits, walking three and striking out a career-high six batters.
Next on tap for the Dutch is a pivotal three-game series with Loras College beginning Friday in Pella with first pitch at 3 p.m. Central is trying to make the league tournament for the second year in a row but will need a sweep to have a chance. Buena Vista University (13-20, 9-11) is the other team vying for a spot in the conference tournament and it plays a three-game series against conference leader Wartburg College in Waverly. Buena Vista holds the tiebreaker over Central after winning the season series 2-1. The Dutch will need to sweep the Duhawks and have the Knights sweep the Beavers to head to Cedar Rapids May 10 for the beginning of the league tournament.
Central will also honor its eight seniors Saturday for Senior Day with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
