WAVERLY—Central College made an early offensive uprising stand up for a softball split at Wartburg College Tuesday, holding off the Knights 7-6 before sustaining an 11-0, five-inning setback.
           
The Dutch (15-5 overall, 5-1 American Rivers) gave up a first-inning run in the opener but answered with three in the second inning and two more in the third to take command. Central stretched the lead to 7-1 in the fifth but then had to withstand a Wartburg onslaught. The Knights (20-8 overall, 5-3 conference) put four runs up in the fifth inning and another in the sixth, cutting the margin to one run. They then put the first two runners aboard in the seventh, moving them to second and third base with one out.
           
That's when the Dutch defense stood tall on a pair of grounders to shortstop Daria Parchert (sophomore, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS).
           
"Daria made a really good throw to the plate and Kylie (Olson) (senior, Mapleton, Minn., Maple River HS) made a heck of a tag," coach George Wares said. "Then Daria got a tough one-hopper and made it look easy but if she doesn't make that play, it's a tie game."
           
Instead it was a victory for starter Mariah Fritz (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS), who had to battle uncharacteristic strike-zone issues, walking eight batters while yielding nine hits and three earned runs in seven innings to improve to 9-4.
           
Parchert had a run-scoring double while first baseman Amanda Sigulas (junior, Morton, Ill.) had two of the Central's seven hits.
           
Wartburg carried the late offensive momentum into the second game, handing Danielle Riley (senior, Afton, East Union HS) her first loss. Riley (6-1) was relieved in the fourth inning by Lauren Shirley (junior, Queen Creek, Ariz., Seton Catholic HS). Riley was tagged for 10 runs on 12 hits and a walk in three innings. Shirley gave up an additional run on one hit in facing five batters.
           
Central, which was outhit in the opener, 9-7, mustered just five hits in the second game, including another by Sigulas.
           
The games were originally slated for Wedensday but moved up a day due to anticipated weather issues. That cut down on preparation time, but Wares said the Dutch responded well.
           
"I was happy with the way we came out," he said. "We had really good at-bats."
           
Central has a flurry of eight home games in five days starting with a non-conference doubleheader against Greenville University (Ill.) Friday at 3 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field. The Panthers are 15-5 heading into a Wednesday doubleheader with Blackburn College (Ill.). In 2017, Central defeated Greenville in the teams' only previous meeting. A video webcast and live stats can be accessed via the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu.
           
"They'll swing it," Wares said. "It's a good opportunity for us. (Greenville) is going to win a lot of games this year."