MOUNT VERNON— The Central College softball team extended its winning streak to nine games with a sweep of a doubleheader against Cornell College.
           
The Dutch won the opening game 8-0 and defeated the Rams (10-13) in the second game 11-0 in five innings.
           
Pitcher Emma Beck (junior, Holland, Grundy Center HS) threw her seventh complete game of the season in game one in which her pitching line was seven innings, four hits, no walks and five strikeouts. In the second game Beck pitched four innings allowing only two hits while also striking out five batters.
           
Beck has now pitched 18.1 consecutive scoreless innings and lowered her season ERA to 1.92.
           
"Beck was phenomenal today," said coach George Wares. "She was trying to be too fine earlier in the season, but now she is commanding her pitches much better. She is pitching with a lot more authority and precision."
           
In the first game Central (15-3) scored eight runs on nine hits. The scoring started in the second inning when left fielder Emma Jensen (senior, Earlham) and right fielder Mariah Parton (junior, Ankeny) both had RBIs. Parton would also steal home in the inning.
           
Catcher Rylee Dunkin (sophomore, Hamilton, Twin Ceders HS) stole home to score its fourth run in the fourth inning. Also, in that inning Emma Lenox (senior, Fremont, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont) hit a pinch hit two-RBI double, and second base Larissa Miller (sophomore, Ankeny) hit an RBI single to extend the lead.
           
The final run came in the seventh inning when pinch runner Emma Anderson (freshman, Forest City) stole home. Dunkin and designated player Alexa Anderson (senior, Mount Ayr) led the ream in hits, each with two. Dunkin also scored twice.
           
In the second game of the doubleheader the Dutch got out to an early 4-0 lead and in the fifth inning they exploded for seven runs. In the big seventh inning Alexa Anderson, Lenox, Parton, Addi Starr (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS), and Haley Bach (senior, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) all recorded RBIs. Elise Evans-Murphy (sophomore, Sargeant Bluff, Sargeant Bluff-Luton HS) recorded two RBIs in the inning with a pinch hit single.

The Dutch have played every other day since Sunday and Will continue to through April 18.
           
"[Our schedule] is unique, but from a playing standpoint it is good.," Wares said. "We are seeing live pitching all the time and it allows our hitters to get in a better grove, and we are very confident with our offense right now."
           
As a team, Central only recorded six hits, but it drew five walks. Bach led the team with two hits in this game. She also scored a run to extend her Central softball career runs scored record. She has now scored 158 runs in her career. Starr, Jensen and Parton both recorded two RBIs in the game.
           
The Dutch return home for their Strikeout Cancer Day, with a doubleheader against Grinnell College starting at 1 p.m.