PELLA—It's been an unpredictable season for the Central College softball team.
           
Unfortunately, that storyline continued in a disappointing way as the Dutch were unexpectedly snowed under by Lake Forest College (25-15) 10-1 in six innings in the first round of the NCAA Division III softball Pella, Iowa Regional Friday.
           
Central (26-9) had vaulted to No. 15 in the NFCA Division III rankings and was seeded No. 1 in the regional coming off a sparkling week of action that gave the Dutch an American Rivers Conference tournament title as well as their 13th league championship. But their eight-game win streak came crashing to a halt.
           
That leaves a daunting path in the four-team double-elimination tourney. Central takes on the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) (27-14) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in an elimination game at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field. The Bennies were 7-4 losers to the Univ. of Wis.-La Crosse, which will meet Lake Forest at 11 a.m. for a spot in Sunday's 1 p.m. title game. The Central-Saint Benedict winner comes back at 4 p.m. against the Wis.-La Crosse and Lake Forest loser.
           
Friday's contest was a struggle in all phases. Central was held hitless for the first 3.2 innings and mustered just a run on four hits for the day. Mariah Fritz (senior, Tama, East Marshall HS) surrendered three first-inning runs and was finally lifted in the sixth inning after giving up six earned runs on nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts while also hitting three batters. Danielle Riley (senior, Afton, East Union HS) allowed a run on two hits and a walk in one inning, striking out one.
           
Meanwhile, the Dutch defense committed an uncharacteristic three errors.
           
Central's lone tally came without a hit in the third inning on a pair of walks and an error, resulting in center fielder Sara Tallman (junior, Pella) crossing the plate.
But it's been that kind of season for the Dutch. It's the fourth time they've lost a game by the mercy rule. That's paired with five wins in similar fashion.
           
"I feel for our players," coach George Wares said. "When you have a run like we did, you just hope you come out and play well. It's not about losing, losing is going to happen. But we never gave ourselves a chance to win from the beginning."
           
But just as it has at those other season low points, Central needs to quickly look forward, Wares said.
           
"It's not like it hasn't happened this year before," he said of the lopsided loss.
           
And the Dutch vow they'll give their all to extend their season Saturday.
           
"There's definitely not a thought that we're done yet," said catcher Kylie Olson (senior, Mapleton, Minn., Maple River HS).
           
Live stats and a video webcast of each NCAA Pella, Iowa Regional game can be accessed through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu. A broadcast of Central's action will air on KRLS-FM (92.1) with the voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle.