PELLA — Getting outhit 17-7, the Central College baseball team fell 11-4 against Buena Vista University Friday afternoon.

The Beavers (17-6, 6-2 American Rivers Conference) pounded out 17 hits and had three players with three-hit games. Central's offense had just seven total hits, led by two apiece from catcher Dom DeLaPaz (junior, Davenport, West HS) and right fielder Colton DeRocher (senior, Sioux City, East HS).

"Our bats looked a bit better today than yesterday," coach Adam Carey said. "But there's still a lot of room for growth. Buena Vista can really pitch it but we helped their starter settle into the game by biting at his slider."

DeRocher, Chance Dreyer (sophomore, first baseman, Davenport, Assumption HS), Declan O'Hare (fifth year, pitcher, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) and Garrett Guenther (freshman, shortstop, Grayslake, Ill., Central HS) had one RBI apiece.

O'Hare gave the Dutch 5.1 innings of work as the starting pitcher. He yielded five earned runs with 11 hits and three walks while striking out four.

"When Declan throws with conviction, he's really hard to hit," Carey said. "He found a way to compete through it, but they hit the ball well and had some opportunistic hits."

Two freshmen pitchers made their debuts in relief of O'Hare. Xander Poock (Johnston) was first to appear, giving up three earned runs in 1.2 innings. Bo Gerbracht (Wellsburg, AGWSR HS) had two scoreless frames to close out the game.

"I was excited to see Bo and Xander both got out there and compete," Carey said. "We've known the upside Bo has always had, it's just a matter of growth and development. It didn't look like his first outing, which is unique for a freshman in the position he was in."

Central and Buena Vista continue their series with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 1 p.m.