PELLA—The news kept getting worse for the Central College softball team in the American Rivers Conference tourney Thursday.
           
Not only did the third-seeded Dutch drop a 4-2 opening game to sixth-seeded Nebraska Wesleyan University, they lost the team's leading hitter, right fielder Franie Burnett (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) to injury. And they were unexpectedly staring at the pod favorite and host, No. 24-ranked Wartburg College, in an elimination game after the second-seeded Knights were stunned 15-4 by the seventh-seeded University of Dubuque.
           
But Central (19-13) had a gritty response—and an exhausting effort from strong-armed pitcher Sydni Huisman (sophomore, Treynor)—to oust Wartburg 5-4 and remain alive in the double-elimination tourney.
           
Central comes back at 10 a.m. Friday to take on the University of Dubuque (23-18), which was also surprised by Nebraska Wesleyan Thursday evening, 8-2. Friday morning's winner then takes on Nebraska Wesleyan. The Dutch will need to win three games Friday to advance to Saturday's championship at Cedar Rapids.
           
The road ahead is long, but at least there is one, said coach George Wares.
           
"We just didn't want the season to end on a two-and-out," he said. "But to be in a position where you felt like maybe it wasn't going to happen and then be able to do it is nice."
           
The Dutch got a big lift after the disappointing loss with a four-run first inning against Wartburg (26-10). That mirrored a non-conference doubleheader last Friday at Bethel University (Minn.), when Central dropped a 5-4 10-inning decision, then jumped to a 3-0 lead and won the nightcap, 4-1.
           
"I think the Bethel game really helped us," Wares said. "To be able to come back when you're down and get a good performance. When we scored one, I felt pretty good just to get something on the board and then to get four was really big. You knew it maybe wasn't going to be enough because Wartburg does swing the bat pretty well, but it was nice to get that lead instead of chasing two or three runs the other way."
           
Already without Burnett, Wares decided to rest catcher Madison Farrington (sophomore, Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) as well and helping fill the offensive void was back-up Cassie Severson (sophomore, Ankeny, Centennial HS), who knocked in three runs with two hits, including a two-run first-inning single.
           
"We've said forever we have more than one good catcher," Wares said. "Cassie has really bought in to shortening up. She gets it in play and had a couple big hits today so good for her."
           
Designated player Katie Banowetz (senior, Grand Mound, Calamus-Wheatland HS) and second baseman Lauren Birt (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) also had first-inning RBI hits. Severson drove in Birt in the third inning after Birt had swiped second and third base, giving her 11 steals on the year.
           
That stretched the lead to 5-0 but Wartburg sliced it to 5-4 in the bottom of the third as Olivia Brecht belted a two-run homer and the Knights were aided by a Dutch defense that committed four errors in the contest. That's a rare stumble for a team that leads the league in fielding percentage.
           
But Huisman (12-10) allowed just two Wartburg baserunners the rest of the way. It was a 236-pitch day for the sophomore. She went seven innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Wares said he doesn't like to put so many innings on one pitcher but thought the time was right.
           
"That's not something you want to do a lot moving forward but she is the kind of pitcher that can do it," he said. "She's strong and she handles it well."
           
In the opener, Nebraska Wesleyan put up two runs in the second inning and never trailed.
           
Burnett and shortstop Daria Parchert (senior, Illinois City, Ill., Rockridge HS) each had two hits. Huisman gave up just one earned run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
           
Mental mistakes plagued the Dutch.
           
"That hasn't changed all year," Wares said. "We're working on it and the players are trying but we just have some lapses, even in the second game when we worked around four errors, which is really unusual. Give Nebraska Wesleyan credit, but we took ourselves out of some things and had a couple of defensive lapses that allowed them to get a lead. And to their credit, they were able to hold it."
           
Now the Dutch prepare for what they hope is a long day Friday.
           
"Obviously we're not thinking about winning three games," Wares said. "We're thinking about winning one and go from there."
           
An audio webcast of Central's action with the Voice of the Dutch, Trevor Castle, can be accessed at www.kniakrls.com.