Central College beat the University of Dubuque 8-2 and Coe College 3-0 Saturday at the American Rivers Conference softball tournament to earn the league’s automatic bid to NCAA postseason play.  The games were broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Dutch sent 10 batters to the plate in scoring six first inning runs in a comfortable victory against the upset minded Spartans.

Against Coe, each defense delivered multiple run-saving plays as the game remained scoreless into the late innings.  Central finally dotted the scoreboard when Amanda Sigulas led off the fifth inning with a double and scored on Sadie Baugher’s RBI hit.  An inning later, Daria Parchert and Sigulas had back-to-back singles and scored on Baugher’s double.

Mariah Fritz threw all 14 innings on the day for the Dutch, who finish the regular season with a record of 26-8.  Up next is Selection Monday, when Central will find out its postseason road for the 62-team tournament that starts next weekend.