WAVERLY—The offenses were in overdrive as the Central College softball team split its American Rivers-opening games at Wartburg College Friday, dropping a 9-4 decision before erupting for a 15-2, six-inning victory.
           
Freshman pitcher Emma Beck (Holland, Grundy Center HS) delivered the response No.17-ranked Central needed in the second game after watching an early 4-0 lead dissolve in the opener. Beck (5-0) allowed five hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning, walking one and striking out five in five innings.
           
"She was big," coach George Wares said. "We needed her because we were obviously pretty down after the first game."
           
Some early missed opportunities left an opening for Wartburg in the opener. Central (20-4 overall, 1-1 conference) scored four runs in the first two innings but hit into a pair of double plays after loading the bases. Wartburg (11-11 overall, 1-1 conference), which scored three runs in the third inning, then staged a decisive six-run uprising in the fifth.
           
"We had a chance to be up 7-0," coach George Wares said. "But Wartburg really swings it and their bats just did what they do. We couldn't really get a response to it."
           
Starting pitcher Sydni Huisman (senior, Treynor) was tagged with the loss. Huisman (11-2) yielded nine hits and five earned runs over 4.0 innings, walking two. Morgan Schaben (senior, Portsmouth, Harlan HS) allowed three more runs on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
           
But after being outhit 12-5 in the opener, Central hammered 17 hits in the second game as Wartburg cycled through five pitchers. Second baseman Haley Bach (sophomore, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS), who was on base seven times for the day, was 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored in the nightcap.
           
"She's playing so well," Wares said. "And defensively she's playing well. She's just a really, really tough out."
           
Center fielder Emma Johnson (senior, Davenport, Assumption Catholic HS) and right fielder Emma Jensen (sophomore, Earlham) each had three hits and third baseman Franie Burnett (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) rocketed a three-run homer to left. She had two hits and knocked in four.
           
"That was good for Franie," Wares said. "It was a no-doubter."
           
Central was up 7-0 after three innings and then put it out of reach with an eight-run sixth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate. Bach singled twice in the inning.
           
Schaben pitched a scoreless sixth inning to close it out, allowing a hit and fanning one.
           
Central committed only one error on the day and Wares singled out catcher Madison Farrington (senior, Marshalltown, East Marshall HS), who continues to be rock solid behind the plate. She also picked off a baserunner and nearly caught another.
           
"She was really good," he said.
           
While a sweep was the goal, Wares said a split on the road is not unexpected in a fiercely competitive conference race.
           
"Give Wartburg credit," he said. "They're not a typical .500 team, with the schedule they've played."
           
The Dutch travel to Indianola for another conference doubleheader against Simpson College Tuesday at 3 p.m. Simpson takes an 18-6 record, including a 1-1 conference mark, into a home doubleheader with Coe College Saturday.
           
"We've got a pretty tough start to the schedule," Wares said.