AUBURNDALE, FLA. —  The Central College baseball team was one out from beating Salem State University Thursday afternoon but a four-run inning in the top of the ninth propelled them past the Dutch 9-7.

Central (4-7) got a solid first start of the season from pitcher Chance Dreyer (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS).  He struck out six in five innings, while scattering four hits and allowing just two earned runs.

"Chance gave us a great start," coach Adam Carey said. "His pitch count got up too high towards the end."

Reliever Parker Jones (senior, Verona, Wis., Verona Area HS) tossed two scoreless frames and then gave up one run in the eighth. In the ninth, the Vikings strung together a few base runners before a two-run double took the lead for good.

"We had to extend Parker a little longer than we'd like to," Carey said. "He really pitched with guts. Their hitters did a good job sticking to their approach."

Eight of the nine runs for the Vikings came in the third and ninth inning. Five of their runs came on two swings after a bases clearing triple in the third helped them to their first four-run inning of the game.

Central outhit the Vikings 14-12, including three hits apiece from left fielder Jaden Kramer (sophomore, Cedar Falls) and right fielder Colton DeRocher (senior, Sioux City, East HS). Kramer hit his first collegiate home run to lead off the fifth.

"We swung it well all day" Carey said. "We've been waiting for it to click with Jaden. We knew he was close, but it really clicked today."

Center fielder Max Steinlage (sophomore, Cedar Falls) also had two hits and two RBI. Dreyer had two hits, including a double.

Central wraps up its Florida trip with a Beloit College (Wis.) doubleheader starting at 9:30 a.m. (EDT) in Auburndale.

"We need some players to step up," Carey said. "We need to play better defense and pitch out of the bullpen better."