PELLA — Despite limiting a potent Buena Vista University offense, the Central College baseball team was unable to find a win Tuesday night at home.

The Beavers (25-5, 16-1 American Rivers Conference) came into the game averaging 9.8 runs per game. In the 3-1 loss, the Dutch held them to their lowest run total in a conference game and to three or less runs for the third time all season.

Starting pitcher Sam Staley (senior, Cedar Rapids Jefferson) went seven strong innings, allowing a pair of earned runs on seven hits, three walks and a strikeout. Landon Thiele (senior, Moline, Ill.) struck out three in two scoreless relief innings.

"Hats off to Sam for giving us everything he has," coach Casey Klunder said. "He gave us a chance to win against one of the best teams in the Midwest right now. It was fun to watch him pitch. Landon was excellent out of the bullpen."

Hitting in the No.9 hole, catcher Brenden Mudd (senior, Greenwood Village, Colo., Cheery Creek HS) led the Dutch offense with a 3-for-3 day. He started with a solo home run in the third inning and added a double and a single later in the game.

"That's his first collegiate home run," "He got a pitch up in the zone and knew what to do with it. He's a really good defensive catcher and he's figuring out this offensive thing here in the second half of the season."

The other Dutch hits were scattered throughout the game. Central got runners in scoring positions in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings but could not scratch any more tallies.

"Buena Vista is a tough midweek draw because they have so many good pitchers," Klunder said. "We've got to get a few things figured out offensively. We had some good at-bats but we need to string them together and we just weren't able to do that today."

Central is set to wrap up the home portion of its conference schedule with three games against Loras College this weekend, starting with a single game at 3 p.m. on Friday.