INDIANOLA — The Central College softball team started the day strong with an 11-5 win over Greenville University (Ill.) but were eliminated from the NCAA Division III Regional in a 4-0 loss against the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) Friday.
The first batter of game one, catcher
Rylee Dunkin (junior, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS), started the action with a solo home run. The Bennies (35-10) countered with four runs in the bottom of the first.
After scoring one run apiece in the second and third innings. First baseman
Addi Starr (sophomore, Ankeny, Centennial HS) took the lead with a two-run home run in the fourth. Central (30-14) added five more runs in the fifth, four of which were unearned.
Central's aggressive baserunning gave the Panthers fits, stealing six bases and took advantage of five Greenville errors to take extra bases.
Ella Morse (freshman, Tucson, Ariz., Sabino HS) was the winning pitcher, allowing five earned runs and eight hits in 4.1 innings.
Peyton Levine (freshman, Oswego, Ill., Yorkville HS) tossed a scoreless final 2.2 innings.
The Bennies and the Dutch played a scoreless game for six innings before the Bennies strung together three hits and took advantage of a pair of Dutch errors to score four in the top of the seventh.
Larissa Miller (junior, second baseman, Ankeny) had two hits in the second game as Central notched just five total. Central stranded nine baserunners.
Splitting time in the circle again,
Jadyn Huisman (sophomore, Treynor) was sidled with the loss after allowing the winning run on base to start the seventh. She worked 4.1 innings and gave up six hits and three unearned runs. Levine recorded eight outs, allowing one earned run with a hit and a walk.
Central is now 102-69 all time in 34 NCAA Division III Championships appearances, the most of any program.
