INDIANOLA—Showing no signs of wear on its fifth consecutive day of action, the Central College softball team rocked Simpson College 13-5 in six innings Thursday, taking two of three games in the teams' series.
           
The Dutch (8-6 overall, 6-4 American Rivers) jolted Simpson with a five-run first inning and was in command throughout. Right fielder Franie Burnett (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) and first baseman Megan Stuhr (freshman, Sigourney) had RBI doubles in the frame and second baseman Lauren Birt (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) followed with a run-scoring single.
           
Central added a run in the second inning and two in the third before Simpson (8-13 overall, 6-9 conference) briefly climbed within 8-5 after five innings. But the Dutch then put the game away with a five-run sixth inning. Stuhr and shortstop Carson Fisk (sophomore, Searsboro, Lynnville-Sully HS) had RBI singles.
           
Center fielder Sara Tallman (senior, Pella) had two hits and two walks while Stuhr, Fisk and designated player Katie Banowetz (senior, Grand Mound, Calamus-Wheatland HS) each had two hits.
           
Coach George Wares said the players didn't give in to fatigue.
           
"I liked the battle in the players," he said. "They just kept stepping up. Different players kept making plays."
           
Burnett was again an offensive catalyst, scoring three runs, but sparkled on defense as well, with an impressive grab at the right-field fence.
           
Wares also cited Fisk, who, after filling in for third baseman Paige Roehlk (senior, Davenport, West HS), is now holding down shortstop while Daria Parchert (senior, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS) is out.
           
"I thought she got better at short," he said. "She made the routine plays and one above-average play."
           
Sydni Huisman (sophomore, Treynor) improved to 7-4, giving up three runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout through 4.0 innings, adding 85 pitches to her already heavy load. Morgan Schaben (sophomore, Portsmouth, Harlan HS) yielded two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings of relief.
           
"I was happy we were able to get as much as we did out of Morgan," Wares said.
           
Central meets the University of Dubuque Saturday in a league doubleheader at noon at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field, with a third game set for Sunday at 1 p.m. A video stream and live stats can be accessed through the Central athletics website at athletics.central.edu. The game will also be broadcast with the Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, on KRLS-FM (92.1). The broadcast can also be heard via www.kniakrls.com.
           
The Spartans are one of the league's most improved clubs with a 17-6 overall and 6-5 conference mark.
           
But at long last, the Dutch will first get a day off.
           
"Hopefully having a day off will help," Wares said. "Dubuque will be a bigger challenge but it's nice to have the games at home."