Huisman shoulders pitching load, Tallman steals record in Central softball split
ARDEN HILLS, MINN. A determined effort by pitcher Sydni Huisman (sophomore, Treynor) lifted the Central College softball team to a 4-1 victory at Bethel University (Minn.) Friday after a grueling 5-4, 10-inning defeat in the opener.
The twinbill was highlighted by a three-stolen base performance from center fielder Sara Tallman (senior, Pella) that gave her Central’s career thefts mark. In a tradition-rich program largely built on aggressive baserunning, Tallman’s 115 career steals tops the mark established by Daniela Grob from 1997-2000. Remarkably, all of Grob’s steals came as a pinch-runner. She’s the only player in American Rivers Conference (formerly Iowa Conference) history to gain all-conference recognition in that role.
The difference was defense as the Central College softball team overcame a sputtering offensive start and swept Buena Vista University 9-5 and 4-1 Thursday. The Dutch (17-10 overall, 15-8 American Rivers) not only played errorless ball but dazzled defensively at times. Held scoreless in the first four innings of the opener, Central jumped on a pair of Buena Vista errors to roll up six runs on just two hits in the fifth inning and added three runs in the sixth before holding off a late BV surge.
Senior Denae Howes entered as a pinch-runner in the fifth inning, stole second and scored but Central batted around and coach George Wares left her in the lineup to hit while still in the fifth. It was just the second at-bat of the season for Howes, but she roped a line drive just beyond the grasp of the Buena Vista shortstop for a two-run hit to highlight the frame, along with a well-placed two-run single by Dutch shortstop Daria Parchert who shortened up and punched a two-strike pitch throu
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Central bats quiet in key league softball matchup
CEDAR RAPIDS Central College couldn’t generate the offense it needed as Coe College strengthened its hold on first place in the American Rivers softball race Tuesday with a pair of wins.
The Dutch (13-9 overall, 11-7 conference) dropped a 5-3 decision in the completion of a suspended game from April 13, finishing a scoreless seventh inning Tuesday, before getting blanked 4-0.
That lifts Coe to 16-5 in league play (21-8 overall) with Central in third place. Coe only outhit the Dutch 6-5, but two of the hits were home runs by Bree Mangelsen, who knocked in three runs.
Game-weary Central softball team falters PELLA A shortage of days off and practice time were visibly evident in a disappointing showing for the Central College softball team Sunday. The Dutch were playing their 11th game in the past eight days and it all seemed to catch up with them in a 13-5, five-inning stumble against the same University of Dubuque team they swept Saturday afternoon in much crisper fashion, 1-0 and 3-2. “I give Dubuque credit,” coach George Wares said. “They needed a win to salvage something, kind of like we did against Wartburg when we lost the first two (in a series) and that seems to be the way it’s gone in this league. With this new system of (three-game series), it’s been difficult for anybody to sweep. We missed an opportunity to put ourselves in a good spot. Dubuque played really well and we didn’t do much well at all.”