PELLA—There was no hesitation.
           
After watching his No. 21-ranked Central College softball team drop a game in its doubleheader with Nebraska Wesleyan University Wednesday, then seeing the University of Dubuque rally for two sixth-inning runs to tie Sunday's opener 2-2, coach George Wares saw the opportunity to avoid another Dutch misstep and jumped on it.
           
So with catcher Madison Farrington (senior, Marshalltown, East Marshall HS) on second base with two outs in the seventh, when second baseman Haley Bach (sophomore, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) lined a ball into left-center field, Wares didn't even consider holding Farrington at third base. Farrington and the ball from the outfield arrived simultaneously at home plate but she slid safely under the tag to give Central a 3-2 walk-off followed by a 10-1 five-inning runaway and a Sunday sweep.
           
"A lot of people probably wouldn't have sent her because Madison's not the fastest person in the world," Wares said with a smile. "And their outfielders made some really good throws today, but with that situation, we're going to send her and fortunately the throw was a little bit offline. It was one of those 50-50 plays, but Madison made a really good slide and we got the right call."
           
Maybe not the fastest, but Farrington was fast enough for the Dutch (25-5 overall, 6-2 American Rivers). Known for her rock-solid defensive skills, she scored two of Central's three runs in the win and was 3-for-3 at the plate. The Dutch outhit Dubuque 8-5 but had some uncharacteristic defensive breakdowns that allowed for two unearned runs off starter Sydni Huisman (senior, Treynor). She gave up two hits with three walks while fanning four in 5.1 innings. Morgan Schaben (senior, Portsmouth, Harlan HS) improved to 4-2 with 1.2 innings of shutout relief, allowing three hits with three strikeouts.
           
It was a much-needed lift following the Nebraska Wesleyan split.
           
"We learned when you lose a game like that, the psyche of everybody gets affected," Wares said. "You kind of sensed the players were pressing. We had opportunities and you start thinking, wow, here we go again. And Dubuque played really well. I love what (first-year coach Joshua Keener) is doing there. But that first game, in a way, was a season-changer because if you lose another one like that, it becomes a little bit of a struggle mentally. But to get that one I think definitely freed us up in game two."
           
That was quickly evident as the first eight Central batters of the second game scored, with the Dutch sending 12 batters to the plate in the frame.
           
That was more than enough cushion for pitcher Emma Beck (freshman, Holland, Grundy Center HS). She allowed a run on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts over five innings to remain perfect at 8-0.

            Central, which added two runs in the third inning, outhit Dubuque 10-3.
           
Center fielder Emma Johnson (senior, Davenport, Assumption Catholic HS) was 3-for-3 and had five hits with four RBIs and two stolen bases on the day. Her batting average has soared to .412.
           
"Haley Bach is having such a great year that I think Emma gets a little overshadowed," Wares said. "She started the year a little slow, but her numbers are getting close to what they were last year (.462). She's playing with a lot of confidence.
           
"I kind of joked with her, 'You're getting all singles, when are you going to get a double?'" Wares said. "Sure enough, she got a double today and once she got over to third, she said, 'There you go, Coach.'"
           
Bach managed two hits and a walk and scored three runs. She's hitting a team-best .473 with a .593 on-base percentage and, with 42 runs, is within shouting distance of Abbey Strajack's 2015 record of 52. The Dutch also got two hits in the nightcap from first baseman Megan Stuhr (junior, Sigourney) and left fielder Megan Doty (senior, Grinnell). Central profited from five Dubuque errors while playing errorless ball themselves.
           
The pace of the conference schedule accelerates with another home doubleheader Tuesday against Buena Vista University at 2 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex softball field. The Beavers, who swept Central in a twinbill at Storm Lake last year, tumbled to 5-23 overall and 1-9 in conference play after a pair of 6-2 losses at Loras College Sunday.
           
"We're definitely not thinking about anything beyond that," Wares said. "You can't do that in this conference."