After a bumpy start to their spring break trip to Arizona, the Central College softball team is looking more like the No. 7 ranked team in the country.  The Dutch have now won six straight games after shellacking No. 19-rated Wisconsin Lacrosse 10-1 in five innings, and downing La Verne 5-4 on Monday.  

Entering the day, Central Head Coach George Wares thought the day’s split bill was the toughest day his team would face at the Tucson Invitational.  The Dutch rocked Wisconsin-La Crosse for ten hits, including a fourth-inning grand slam by first baseman Katie Tenboer, who went 3-of-3 at the plate and tied her own school record with six RBIs.  Kiley Lythberg earned the win in the pitching circle in both games, improving her record to 3-1.  

The win over La Verne was a battle, after Central’s 5-0 lead quickly shrunk when they gave up a sixth-inning grand slam.  La Verne had the tying run on second base later in that inning, but the Central defense came through with a game-saving double play and Lythberg retired the side in the seventh for the win.  

Also big for the Dutch was designated player Rachel Everingham, who reached base three times and had two singles.  She’s hitting a team-high .538, reminiscent of her production as a freshman in 2009, when she earned all-America distinction.  

After eight games in four days, the Dutch have another eight games in Tucson ahead, but not before taking a day off Tuesday.  They will resume play on Wednesday with a double-dip against Husson and Schreiner.