Kaitlyn Andresen homered in both games, and a pair of freshman pitchers shined in their outdoor debuts, as the number-12 Central College softball team beat Transylvania 4-0 and DePauw 7-2 in Tucson, Arizona at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.  The games were broadcast live on KRLS3.

Andresen started the scoring in the top of the first inning with a two-out home run against the Pioneers, and the score stood at 1-0 until the Dutch added three runs in the sixth.  That was plenty for rookie Sydni Huisman, who struck out nine batters and scattered five hits in the circle.  Three of those hits came in the seventh inning as Transylvania loaded the bases, but Huisman wiggled out of the jam to preserve the win.

In the second game, against 8th-ranked DePauw, the Dutch again bolted out in front on a solo home run, this time from senior centerfielder Sara Tallman.  It was an inside-the-park homer, the first of her career, in the bottom of the first inning.  The lead was short-lived, however, as the Tigers scratched out two runs in the second against Skylar Sadler.  Morgan Schaben was called on in relief to end the inning, then dazzled the rest of the way, keeping DePauw off the scoreboard with 5 2/3 shutout innings of relief.

It looked like that effort wouldn’t be enough, as Central mustered just two hits through five innings against Tiger ace Cami Henry.  Then with one out in the sixth, Tallman sparked a rally with her third hit of the game.  After a Lauren Birt walk, Andresen ripped a three-run homer to deep left center field.  The Dutch tacked on three more runs in the inning on back-to-back-to-back RBI hits by Amanda Sigulas, Emma Johnson and Katie Banowetz.  Schaben allowed only two hits, and worked around three walks while striking out four.

Central is 4-0 on the season and returns to action Saturday morning at 9am in Tucson (10am Iowa time), when they take on LeTourneau and Emerson in a pair of first ever meetings.  Trevor Castle will call both games live on the KRLS3 stream.