PELLA — A ninth-inning rally in game two by the Central College baseball team stunned Loras College as the Dutch pulled off a 10-6 and 5-4 sweep on Tuesday afternoon.
Central (15-4, 5-3 American Rivers Conference) found itself in a 4-1 hole with two outs in the eighth inning of the second game against the Duhawks (9-9, 3-5 conference). A Garrett Saunders (senior, shortstop, Bonaparte, Van Buren HS) single got it started before Tanner Wood (senior, right fielder, Pella) roped a double to right field. Saunders scored on the hit and Wood would score on a throwing error by the right fielder to make the game 4-3.
Ryan Riddle (sophomore, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) came in to pitch the ninth and kept the Duhawks off the scoreboard. His brother Chris Riddle (senior, second baseman, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS) led off the ninth with home run to tie the contest.
"Chris has home run potential every single time up," Schirm said. "He struggled earlier in the game but he took it one at-bat a time. He did not let those other at-bats affect his last one."
Trevor Kimm's (junior, catcher, Urbandale) single kept the rally going before Coy Moore (senior, centerfielder, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) drove Kimm in from second for the win.
"It was really good execution," Schirm said. "Trevor had a hard-hit single. We pinch hit Blake Wooten (junior, Peoria, Ariz., Centennial HS) and he laid down a perfect punt to move him over. And then Coy got the walk-off hit."
Moore matched a career-high with four hits in the opener. He scored three runs and drove in two.
"He's pretty locked in right now," Schirm said. "You know he's locked in when he's able to hit the ball to all fields. Hopefully, he can keep it going."
Striking out nine batters in 5.0 innings, Zach Edwards (junior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) earned the win in the opener. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks.
"It was good to see him back in form," Schirm said. "The most important thing is he felt really good after. He probably could have went longer, but we were being cautious with his pitch count."
Senior Adam Carey (Pella) got the start in the second game, allowing four runs on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. Rece Martin (senior, Saydel) pitched a scoreless 3.0 innings of relief before Riddle.
The eight-game home stand for Central continues on Friday against Buena Vista University. The Dutch and Beavers will play at 3 p.m. on Central's home field at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex.
A video webcast and live stats of Friday's action can be accessed through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu
