AUBURNDALE, FLA. — Scoring three runs apiece in the seventh and eighth inning ignited the Central College baseball team to an 8-4 win over Greenville University (Ill.) Wednesday.
Central (5-3) jumped out a 2-1 lead on Monday through three and half innings before the game was suspended because of weather. The two teams picked up where they left off 48 hours later.
"It was really unique returning to a suspended game and picking up halfway through," coach Adam Carey said. "The conversation with our guys was about starting quick and getting on the attack early."
Despite strong pitching by a pair of Dutch relievers, the Panther (5-8) offense tallied one run apiece in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take the lead 4-2. Nathan Brinkmeier (sophomore, Pearl City, Ill.) allowed one earned run in 2.0 innings with three hits and no walks. Turner Williams (sophomore, Newton) also allowed one earned run on two hits in one inning.
"Nathan did a good job of pitching around traffic and a little adversity," Carey said. "He kept us in the game by minimizing their chances."
A two-out RBI triple by Chance Dreyer junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) in the seventh inning closed the gap to 4-3. Shortstop Garrett Guenther (sophomore, Grayslake, Ill., Central HS) followed with a two-run home run that cleared the 400-foot fence sign in straightaway center field to take the lead 5-4.
"It was awesome to see put that inning together," Carey said. "We finally cracked the code and those were huge hits by Chance and Garrett."'
The Dutch tacked on three more runs with five hits in the bottom of the eighth, including RBI singles by Dreyer and designated hitter Max Steinlage (junior, Cedar Falls).
"It was a day full of good at-bats," Carey said. "Greenville had some crafty arms out of the bullpen but our guys stuck to their approach and figure them out."
Williams earned the pitching win and Bryce Haessig (junior, Huxley, Ballard HS) recorded his second save.
The Dutch have a doubleheader against Saint Joseph's College (Maine) at 2:45 p.m. (EST) on Thursday in Auburndale.
