Our number seven entry on Central College’s Top 10 moments countdown takes us to the softball diamond, where Central’s chances were fading as rapidly as the daylight on April 15th. That’s when the Dutch erupted for three seventh inning runs and an improbable 8-7 walk-off victory for a doubleheader split with Wartburg College in a battle for the American Rivers lead.

Shortstop Cassie Severson singled to load the bases and later raced home with the game-winner on an errant throw to the plate, restoring a percentage-points lead in the conference race for the surprising Dutch.

Wartburg had hung on for an 8-7 win in the opener and appeared to be taking firm command of the conference title race by bolting to a 6-0 second-inning lead in the second game.    

But Emma Neu came out of the bullpen to limit Wartburg to one run over the last 4.2 innings while the offense started chipping away.

Central’s time in first place in the league was short lived, and they tumbled to a 21-17 overall record this spring.