PELLA — The pitching staff for the Central College baseball team limited Wartburg College to four runs in 18 innings in a 7-1, 8-3 sweep on Sunday afternoon.
With the sweep, Central evened its mark in conference games to 3-3 with a 13-4 overall mark. Wartburg fell to 6-13 overall and 3-3 in league games.
"I'm really proud of our guys," coach Matt Schirm said. "After a tough loss yesterday, we came back today and fought and clawed to get a couple of wins."
Pat Diemer (sophomore, Waukee) had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-9 with 6 RBIs. The right fielder broke open the second game with a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth.
"It was a huge hit," Schirm said. "We're looking for opportunities for him because he hasn't been in the lineup every day. One of the best things about this team is that we've got so much depth."
Tyler Steward's (sophomore, Norwalk) first start of the season was a gem, allowing one earned run over 6.0 innings with six strikeouts, two walks and four hits to earn the win in the opener.
Scattering eight hits over 6.2 innings, Tanner Wood (senior, Pella) allowed two earned runs to take the victory in the second game. Wood also had two hits and 2 RBIs in the first game.
"We needed really good outings from our starters today and for them to go deep into the game," Schirm said. "Tyler got his pitch count up early, he didn't have the usual command of his offspeed pitches but he fought hard. Tanner's best pitching performances have been against Wartburg the last two years."
Relief pitcher Nathan Schwanke (sophomore, Omaha, Neb., Concordia HS) was used in both ends of the doubleheader. In a combined 3.1 innings, he allowed two hits and two walks with five strikeouts and no runs.
It was a great performance by Nathan coming both games," Schirm said. "He really shut the door in the back end of the game. There were lots of positives from a pitching standpoint today."
Trevor Kimm's (junior, Urbandale) three-run moonshot in the eighth inning of the opener put the game on ice for Central and was the first collegiate home run for the catcher. First baseman Ryan Bouwman (senior, Bloomington, Ill., Normal HS) went 3-for-5 in the nightcap.
The eight-game home stand for Central continues on Tuesday against Loras. The Dutch and Duhawks will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Central's home field at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.
A video webcast and live stats of Sunday's action can be accessed through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu
