DUBUQUE — The Central College baseball team took the opener 12-11 Friday over Loras College while Colton DeRocher's 25th career home run was a bright spot in a 21-6 loss in the second game.
The Dutch (15-23, 9-13 American Rivers Conference), buoyed by a seven-run eighth inning, outslugged the Duhawks (23-15, 12-10 conference) in the opener. Central entered the eighth frame in an 8-4 hole. Two of the first three Dutch batters were retired before stringing together seven runs with two outs.
"Scoring with two outs is such a big deal," coach Adam Carey said. "It was good to see us have another big inning with two outs."
Central had 16 tota hits, including one from each starter. First baseman Declan O'Hare (fifth year, Los Angeles, Calif., John Marshall HS) and right fielder Jaden Kramer (sophomore, Cedar Falls) each had three hits.
"I was happy with the way we swung it," Carey said. "There were so many guys who hit the ball so hard."
Immediately after a pitching change, catcher Dom DeLaPaz (junior, Davenport, West HS) had a two-RBI double in the middle of the eighth that gave Central the lead for the first time since the second inning.
"He came through big in that spot when they brough in a new arm," Carey said.
Max Steinlage (sophomore, Cedar Falls) started on the mound and went four innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and four walks. Bryce Haessig (sophomore, Huxley, Ballard HS came on in relief and worked around eight hits and four earned runs in five innings to get the win.
"Steinlage really battled through his four innings," Carey said. "Bryce fended off their offense long enough while our offense got going. It goes to show Bryce's toughness."
In game two, center fielder Colton DeRocher (senior, Sioux City, East HS) hit his 25th career home run with a solo shot in the third inning. He bypassed Rick Hassman, who had held the record for home runs in a career at 24 since 1989.
"It was so nice to see that ball get over the fence for him so he can have that record," Carey said. "He's done it in three years while others have had four years to do. It is a record well earned."
Loras piled up 32 runs on 37 hits in 16 innings. Brayden Sawyer (sophomore, Grundy Center) took the loss in game two after giving up even runs and 11 innings 3.0 innings. Four other Dutch relievers combined to finish the game.
"Loras is the best offense we've seen all year and it's not close," Carey said. "It's unrelenting. Every out hard and there's not much swing and miss in their lineup."
The Dutch will close out the 2024 season with a third game at Loras at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
