STORM LAKE — The Central College baseball team had a resurgent day from its offense with a doubleheader split against Buena Vista University Tuesday.
The Dutch (12-12, 4-8 American Rivers Conference) took a 9-6 win in the first game before suffering a 10-9 setback in a 12-inning nightcap against the Beavers (19-6, 11-2 A-R-C).
Catcher Dom DeLaPaz (senior, Davenport, West HS) led the offensive surge in the opener. He was 3-for-4 with four runs driven in. He launched a three-run home in the eighth inning that third baseman Brayden Sawyer (junior, Grundy Center) matched later in a big seven-run eighth inning.
"That was a fun inning to be in the dugout for," coach Adam Carey said. "When you have traffic on the bases and get a big swing, it does a lot more damage. We strung so many good at-bats together."
Shortstop Garrett Guenther (sophomore, Grayslake, Ill., Central HS) had three hits of his own in the first game as Central totaled 13.
Game one starting pitcher Max Steinlage (junior, Cedar Falls) evened his season record at 2-2 with his winning effort on the mound. He went 8.0 innings, striking out five batters and scattering five hits and three walks while allowing two earned runs. Bryce Haessig (junior, Huxley, Ballard HS) recorded the final two outs on seven pitches for his third save of the year.
"That's the Max we know and love," Carey said. "I was so happy with how he competed and how he bounced back after a couple of rough outings the last two weeks."
In game two, Central trailed 9-2 entering the top of the seventh inning before another seven-inning frame pulled the game even. Left fielder Dylan Williams (junior, Woods Cross, Utah HS) and second baseman Chance Dreyer (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS) each had two-RBI hits during the rally while center fielder Steinlage had a pair of singles.
"It showed me how tough our guys really are," Carey said. "The mental fortitude they showed was so important. It shows the cultural growth we've had. That inning doesn't happen if our guys fold."
Dreyer finished with four hits and three RBI as the Dutch had another 13-hit game as a team.
"The offense looked quite a bit better tonight," Carey said. "It was a step in the right direction. Everybody showed flashes and several were consistently good all night."
Bryer Wiley (freshman, Urbana, Center Point-Urbana HS) got the nod as game two's starting pitcher for Central. He went 3.0 innings, yielding six earned runs on nine hits and one walk. He was the first of seven pitchers used on the night. Despite working out of bases loaded situations in the 10th and 11th, Haessig took the loss after allowing the walk-off single in the 12th.
"That's a great team that beat us tonight," Carey said.
The Dutch start another three-game weekend series on the road at Luther College in Decorah starting at 3 p.m. Friday.
