INDIANOLA— The Central College softball team got its revenge against Loras College after being swept in the regular season by defeating the Dukawks 10-1 in five innings to open the American Rivers Conference tournament.
           
The Dutch (25-10, 9-7 A-R-C) had a highly productive offensive game scoring its 10 runs on 14 hits. The squad welcomed back All-American shortstop Haley Bach (senior, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) and made a lineup change that saw Mariah Parton (junior, Ankeny) move to the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
           
Central blitzed Loras (22-15, 9-7 A-R-C) early, scoring three runs in the top of the first and second innings. The first four hitters reached safely as Bach hit a leadoff double, Parton hit a single before third baseman Hannah Higgins (junior, Macomb, Ill.) and designated player Alexa Anderson (senior, Mount Ayr) both hit RBI singles. First baseman Addi Starr (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) would add on with an RBI double.
           
"Haley is remarkable," said coach George Wares. "She got the clearance to come back after an ACL injury and set the tone with her leadoff double and some of the defensive plays she made. Mariah has been playing well in the leadoff spot and with Bach and Parton ahead of Higgins and Anderson it worked out."
           
The second inning started with a leadoff double from left fielder Emma Jensen (senior, Earlham) and she would score after Bach reached on an error. Parton picked up her second single of the day, and Higgins and Anderson would each collect their second RBIs of the game in the inning as well.
           
Anderson would pick up her third RBI of the game in the fourth inning scoring Parton, for the third time of the game, on a sacrifice bunt. In the fifth inning the Dutch would push the game to the run rule after center fielder Carley Underwood (sophomore, Mitchellville, Colfax-Mingo HS) hit an RBI double and Bach hit an RBI single.
           
Second baseman Larissa Miller (sophomore, Ankeny) moved down in the lineup and went 2-3 while also scoring a run.
           
"Larissa looked more comfortable in the seven spot in the lineup and did a great job," Wares said.
           
With all-conference pitcher Emma Beck (junior, Holland, Grundy Center HS) still out with an injury, freshman pitcher Jadyn Huisman (Treynor) earned the start for the team and pitched her fifth complete game of the season, going five innings allowing only one run on two hits and one walk while also striking out two hitters.
           
"With Beck out we needed Jadyn to step up," Wares said. "She started off the leadoff hitter with three balls and came back with three strikes to set the tone. The big thing with Jadyn is only allowing one walk, when she keeps her walks down, we feel good about what she can do."
           
The Dutch will advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament and face No. 1 seed and host Simpson College Saturday at 1 p.m.