Wartburg Sweeps Central Softball Squad
For the first time since 2023, the Central College softball lost both ends of a home American Rivers Conference doubleheader against Wartburg College on Tuesday. The Dutch led early in the first game before an eight-run fifth inning by Wartburg led to a 10-4 loss. The Knights held on in game two with a 5-4 victory.
The Dutch got on the board in the third inning of game one with two runs to take an early lead. The costly eight-run inning featured just one hit, a three-run double, but included nine walks. Central clawed back with an Emma Anderson solo home run in the sixth and Hannah Higgins’ second RBI of the day in the seventh.
In game two, Central fell behind 4-0 after three innings and then 5-0 in the top of the fifth. A bases loaded walk to Larissa Miller gave Central a run and a two-run double by Sarah Stufflebeam gave Central some momentum. An infield single by Anderson plated Stufflebeam but the potential game-tying run, Higgins was thrown out trying to take third on the play. Central could not get a base runner to second in the sixth or seventh.
Jadyn Huisman was the losing pitcher in the first game. She was charged with seven earned runs on one hit and 11 walks. Peyton Levine took the loss in the nightcap, allowing five earned runs on five hits and six walks.
Central travels to Loras College for a 1 pm doubleheader on Saturday.
Dutch Women Advance to League Tennis Semifinals
The Central College women’s tennis team made quick work of the University of Dubuque Tuesday night in the American Rivers Conference tournament quarterfinals for a 4-0 win.
The Dutch earned the doubles point by winning at No. 2 and No. 3. Jenna Mitsuko Mahoney and Claire Smock fought for a 7-5 at No. 2 while Emily Blom and Sidney Peterson cruised to a 6-0 win at No. 3. In singles play, Blom won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4 singles, Peterson won 6-3, 6-0 and No. 5, and Rebekah Christensen also won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 to give Central enough points for a team victory.
Central (8-10) advances to play the No. 1 seed Luther College Thursday in Decorah.
