CEDAR RAPIDS — Overcoming a five-run deficit in the final innings of game two, the Central College baseball team secured the doubleheader split by winning 11-9.
The Dutch (6-5, 1-1 American Rivers Conference) were run-ruled by the Kohawks (9-5, 1-1 conference) 13-3 in the first game.
Central found itself trailing 9-4 with two outs in the top of the eighth and a runner on first. Back-to-back singles by Logan McCoy (sophomore, centerfielder, Galva, Alta-Aurelia HS) and Colton DeRocher (junior, Sioux City, East HS) kept the inning alive and helped Central close the gap to 9-5.
A Kohawk error and a Declan O'Hare (senior, designated hitter, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) double put Central within two runs. Garrett Finley (senior, first base, DeWitt, Central DeWitt HS) leveled the game 9-9 with a two-run blast over the center field fence.
"I felt like we really stuck to the plan," coach Casey Klunder said. "We were hitting some balls hard but they were going for outs. We were able to string some good at-bats togethers.
"That was a clutch hit by Garrett. The first two pitches of the at-bat didn't go his way and he stuck to the plan and hit an 0-2 pitch over the 385-foot sign."
After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Central got two quick outs sandwiched around a runner reaching base via error in the top of the ninth. A Max Steinlage (freshman, center fielder, Cedar Falls) single put the winning run on third. Steinlage stole second to put two in scoring position. Chase Martin (sophomore, Port St. Lucie, Fla., John Carroll HS) would scamper home on a wild pitch and Steinlage would come around after the catcher's throw to the plate got away from the pitcher and down the right field line.
"Chase was really attacking the game and made a play for us," Klunder said. "It was really heads up base running by Steinlage, too."
Central got three solid performances out of the bullpen. Zach DeMarlie (freshman, Milan, Ill., Rock Island HS) allowed a pair of earned runs in the sixth and seventh innings in relief of starter O'Hare. Wes Hamor (sophomore, Tama, East Marshall HS) came in for a three up, three down eighth inning before Parker Jones (junior, Verona, Wis., Verona Area HS) polished the win off with a scoreless ninth inning for his second save.
"That's the best our bullpen has looked since the first weekend," Klunder said. "Zach really calmed their bats down. Wes induced three flyouts, including a great defensive play by Martin down the left field line. Parker did what he does and closed it up."
O'Hare struck out four, yielding five earned runs as the starting pitcher.
The Dutch outhit the Kohawks 16-12 in the second game. McCoy had four singles while DeRocher, O'Hare, Finley and Chance Dreyer (freshman, Davenport, Assumption HS) each had two hits.
"The top of our order had a really good day," Klunder said. "Logan really set the tone as the leadoff man all day."
In the opener, Dreyer took the loss on the mound in the opener, allowing nine earned runs over four innings of work. McCoy and Finley each had two hits in the losing effort.
The rubber match of the three-game series between Central and Coe is at 1 p.m. Saturday in Cedar Rapids.
"Coe has probably been the class of the conference the last five years or so," Klunder said. "To go get a win at their place, hopefully that's something we can build upon moving forward."
