DUBUQUE— The Central College baseball team won its first American Rivers Conference game of the season with a road win against the No. 18 team in Division III, Loras College, 14-13.
Central (10-9, 1-8 conference) ended its eight-game losing streak by beating the Duhawks (21-4, 5-4 conference). It was also Central's first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 10 St. Thomas University (Minn.) in 2016.
"I really liked our perseverance," coach Casey Klunder said. "We stuck with the plan and persevered through their scoring rallies."
Right fielder Colton DeRocher (sophomore, Sioux City, East HS) tied a school record with six RBI after hitting a pair of three-run home runs. It was the second game in a row in which he had multiple home runs.
"He's red hot right now," Klunder said. "He's seeing the ball well and it is fun to watch. It's rare to watch an offensive player to take over a game like that."
Logan McCoy (sophomore, shortstop, Galva, Alta-Aurelia HS) drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning with a singe to left field. McCoy and Declan O'Hare (junior, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) each had solo home runs.
"Logan keeps getting better because he's using both sides of the field," Klunder said. He was trying to pull everything at first but now is willingness to use the whole field is big."
Shortstop Tanner Bigelow (sophomore, Gilbert, Ariz., Highland HS) was 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI and second baseman Lucas Farren (fifth year, Yorkville, Ill.) also drove in a pair.
Starting pitcher Marcus Wenzel (senior, Chicago, Ill., Luther North College Prep) allowed 10 earned runs over five innings on the mound. Kurby Vowels (junior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) took over in the sixth and navigated through four innings while scattering four hits and three runs, earning the win.
"Marcus gave us a chance to win," Klunder said. "It was tough conditions but Marcus did a nice job. Kirby was nails out of the bullpen. He mixed pitches well and attacked he hitters so much more effectively."
The Dutch head to Cedar Rapids for a three-game set with Coe College this weekend, starting on Friday at 3 p.m.
