PELLA—Central College's softball infield defense answered the challenge.
           
Called out by coach George Wares after a disappointing loss in a doubleheader split Saturday at the University of Dubuque, the Dutch sparkled in the field and executed their small-ball offensive attack to perfection in knocking off No. 23-ranked Loras College 8-0 in six innings and 2-1 Monday.
           
Suddenly the young Dutch (16-10 overall, 4-2 American Rivers) find themselves atop the conference standings by a slim margin.
           
Wares was unhappy with Central's infield in a 9-1 six-inning rout by Dubuque Saturday. The Dutch rallied for an 11-9 win in the nightcap. He didn't hide his feelings.
           
"We had words and they responded," Wares said. "Some of the left side defensive plays today were just incredible. They were game-savers. Even the one that ended the game was not an easy play that Cassie Severson (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) made at shortstop."
           
Central also got a two-hit shutout from Morgan Schaben (junior, Portsmouth, Harlan HS) in the opener and the first win of the season for pitcher Sydni Huisman (junior, Treynor) in the second game.
           
Equally significant was the Dutch offensive attack in handing Loras freshman pitcher Ashlyn Hemm her first collegiate loss. Hemm had propelled the Duhawks into the national rankings. But after allowing just four runs all season in posting a 14-0 record, she was tagged for eight runs in Tuesday's opener. Hemm appeared to be hampered by an injury suffered when she was picked off second base in the third inning. She completed the game, however, and threw the final inning of the second game. Center fielder Emma Johnson (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) used her speed to notch five hits in six at-bats in the two games, pushing her average to a team-best .476. Designated player Lauren Birt (senior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) had three hits and wreaked havoc on the base paths as well.
           
Central had 10 hits off of Hemm in the opener, although she still struck out six.
           
"We hadn't seen her, we'd only heard about her and watched her on video," Wares said. "But she's definitely a pitcher who is helping them a lot and taking their program maybe to another level.
           
"Our players did a good job of adjusting. Just from top to bottom, we had some good at-bats. You know how that goes. You start getting a couple people hitting and get some things going offensively and it can become contagious."
           
Central was limited to two runs on six hits in the second game by Regan Spence, who was making just her second appearance of the season for Loras.
           
"She's a real good complement to (Hemm)," Wares said. "She's going to keep people off balance."
           
Schaben (11-7) limited Loras to two hits over 6.0 innings, walking three and striking out three. She threw the first 3.1 innings of the second game as well, allowing a run on three hits and three walks while fanning two.
           
"Morgan pitched really well," Wares said. "She gave us everything she could."
            Emma Neu (junior, Rochelle Park, N.J., Hackensack HS) threw an inning of shutout relief before Huisman entered. Lost with what appeared to be a season-ending injury just prior to the opening game, Huisman made her surprise debut Saturday and hopes to be available for limited duty the remainder of the season. She gave up a hit and three walks while striking out two over the final 2.2 innings. Loras loaded the bases against her in the seventh inning but Severson snagged a smash up the middle and stepped on the second base bag to end the game.
           
"They score there and all of a sudden all the momentum shifts to them," Wares said.
           
Huisman gave Central a big lift throwing the finishing innings.
           
"That's kind of the role she might be taking on," Wares said. "Even though she's not what she was (before the injury), she's still pretty good. She was still able to throw it by some people and the rise ball was working pretty well."
           
Central is slated to travel to Storm Lake Wednesday for a 3 p.m. league doubleheader with Buena Vista University. The Beavers are 19-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Central took two of three games with Buena Vista last spring.