The Central College softball team was able to hold off late-inning rallies in two games yesterday to defeat Berry (Georgia) 5-4 and Concordia (Wisconsin) 4-3 in play at the National Training Center Spring games in Clermont, Florida. Freshman pitcher Rhianna Fleetwood earned the win in the first game of the day, giving up three earned runs on five hits and improved her record to 3-2. Kiley Lythberg pitched her fifth game in six days against Concordia and is now 4-1 this season after allowing two earned runs on six hits and ringing up six strikeouts.

A solid string of play in Florida thus far has helped the Central softball team climb five spots in the NFCA Division III rankings to No. 15 this week. The Dutch are 9-4, with a pair of recent losses coming to the No. 5 and 6 teams in the country. Undefeated Louisiana College is the unanimous No. 1 in the latest poll, with Iowa Conference rival Luther ranked No. 7 and Coe ranked No. 20. The Central softball team concludes competition in Clermont, Florida today against Keene State (New Hampshire) and Bethel (Minnesota).

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