CEDAR RAPIDS— The Central College softball team bounced back from two tough losses with a doubleheader sweep against Coe College.
The offense exploded combining for22 runs on 24 hits as the Dutch (19-5, 4-2 American Rivers) won game one 10-4 and followed that with a 12-4 win in game two. Central outscored Coe (11-21, 2-6 American Rivers) 9-0 in the first two innings of the games combined.
"Scoring in the first inning of both games was important," said associate head coach
Alicia O'Brien. "It is always tough for a team when you come out and score early. We were also putting a lot of balls in play, and we were able to use our team speed."
The top four hitters for Central were productive once again combining for 13 of the team's hits across the two games. Shortstop
Haley Bach (senior, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) had five hits, three RBIs and scored four runs in the games. Second base
Larissa Miller (sophomore, Ankeny) totaled three hits and scored three runs. Third base
Hannah Higgins (junior, Macomb, Ill.) had three hits, scored five runs and added two RBIs. Designated player
Alexa Anderson (senior, Mount Ayr) had three RBIs on two hits.
"They were able to make adjustments at the plate and they were aggressive," O'Brien said. "They got back to swinging at good pitches and put the ball in play hard. We were able to have success because they were aggressive."
Pitcher
Emma Beck (junior, Holland, Grundy Center HS) got the win in both games. She pitched a combined 9.2 innings allowing three runs on nine hits while also striking out three hitters. Pitcher
Jadyn Huisman (freshman, Treynor) finished both games, and she pitched 3.2 innings allowing only one earned run while also striking out a hitter.
"Beck was really steady, and she didn't get hit hard," said O'Brien. "She was dominant in both games. Huisman did a really good job closing both games."
Left fielder
Emma Jensen (senior, Earlham) had four hits and scored twice. Right fielder
Mariah Parton (junior, Ankeny) had three hits, scored three times and added an RBI. Catcher
Rylee Dunkin (sophomore, Hamilton, Twin Ceders HS) also scored three runs.
The Dutch will return home Friday when they host Luther College for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.
