Ben Tressel baserunning April 19, 2008

Luther hangs on for 12-8 win

DECORAH—The Central College baseball team trailed 11-0 after six innings before mounting a charge that fell short to Luther College in a 12-8 Iowa Conference contest Saturday.

The Dutch (15-13 overall, 5-7 conference) could not contain the middle of Luther’s lineup as the Norse (10-12 overall, 4-6 conference) Nos. 3, 4 and 5 hitters combined to go 11-for-13 (.846) with eight runs scored and seven RBIs.

Central surrendered three runs in the first inning, one in the second, five in the fourth and two in the fifth before producing any offense.

“Luther came out of the chutes hot and swung it well,” said coach Adam Stevens. “It seemed like they hit everything we threw at them.”

The Dutch plated four runs in the seventh, keyed by a two-run single by sophomore third baseman Ben Tressel (Dubuque, Hempstead HS). After being blanked in the eighth, Central scored three on a double by senior first baseman Michael Edwards (Pella.) in the ninth. Freshman Caleb Rangel (Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) followed with an RBI double but the Dutch would not score again. Starting pitcher Jeremy Kippley (senior, Denison) took the loss, dropping to 1-2.

“We looked better late in the game,” said Stevens. “Hopefully we can show up to the park tomorrow with the same approach we had in the final three innings.”

Tressel went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Edwards was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Senior second baseman Justin Owens (Milo, Southeast Warren HS) was 2-for-2.

Despite giving up 12 runs, the Dutch did not record an error.

The two squads face each other Sunday in a doubleheader in Decorah starting at 2 p.m.