DUBUQUE-Pounding out 26 hits, the No. 24-ranked Central College softball team posted a pair of one-sided road wins at the University of Dubuque Saturday and remained unbeaten in American Rivers play.
The Dutch (19-6 overall, 6-0 conference) notched their third consecutive five-inning victory 15-5 before winning 10-2. Right fielder Hannah Higgins (sophomore, Macomb, Ill.) and center fielder Emma Johnson (5th-year, Davenport, Assumption Catholic HS) each had five hits in the two games while second baseman Haley Bach (junior, Council Bluffs, Lewis Central HS) and Johnson both reached base six times. The Dutch drew 12 walks and stole 12 bases on the day giving them 92 thefts for the season while allowing 30. Central is bidding to top the 100-steal mark for the season for the 23rd time since 1990.
I thought we were very patient and drew some walks,” coach George Wares said. “And then we got some timely hits. We just have some people swinging it well enough to find ways to score.” Third baseman Franie Burnett (senior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) scored four runs and drove in three in the opener while catcher Rylee Dunkin (freshman, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) knocked in four runs. Higgins had three RBIs in the nightcap, bringing home two with a triple and first baseman Megan Stuhr (senior, Sigourney) had two RBIs. Pitcher Sydni Huisman (5th-year, Treynor) improved to 6-2, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Chloe Dougherty (junior, Alleman, North Polk HS) and Morgan Schaben (5th-year, Portsmouth, Harlan HS) combined to toss the final inning. Emma Beck (sophomore, Holland, Grundy Center HS) allowed two runs on three hits to up her record to 7-4 in the second game. She threw 5.0 innings, walking five and fanning two. Schaben threw two hitless innings to close it out, walking one and striking out one.
“Sydni (Huisman) had a hard time getting through that first inning again but then settled down,” Wares said. “Emma Beck was really solid other than the walks. We’ve got to figure out a way to minimize those as a staff.” Dubuque dropped to 7-18 overall and 0-10 in conference play although Wares noted the early conference slate was especially demanding for the Spartans.
“We’re definitely not taking anyone lightly,” Wares said. “We talked a lot to the players after those first sweeps. I thought they did a really good job of staying focused in practice, respected the game and respected Dubuque.” The intensely competitive conference race saw some upsets Saturday that leave Central with a two-game lead in the standings, but numerous teams remain in contention. Wares said the Dutch need to focus on their own performance.
“Every game we win gets us a step closer to what we want at the end,” he said.
