Michael Edwards April 26, 2008

Coe holds down Central’s bats in sweep

PELLA—The Central College baseball team’s bats were kept quiet by the Coe College pitching staff which held the Dutch to eight hits over an Iowa Conference doubleheader as the Kohawks swept 8-3 and 3-1 Saturday.

In the opener the Dutch (17-16 overall, 7-10 conference) could not overcome a six-run first inning by the Kohawks (20-14 overall, 12-7 conference). In the bottom of the first, Central rallied with a pair or runs scored on a double by senior first baseman Michael Edwards (Pella). The two bagger put Edwards alone in third place for most career doubles (38) in program history. The Kohakws plated another in the fourth to stretch their lead to 7-2. Again, Central responded with its own run in the bottom of the inning, but Coe scored the game’s final tally in the seventh.                      

Senior pitcher Brett Mahan (West Des Moines, Valley HS) took the loss to drop to 5-3. He gave up five earned runs on 10 hits with four strike outs and three walks.

The nightcap would prove to be a low-scoring affair. Coe starter, Alec Lewis, went the distance and gave up four hits. Central took a 1-0 advantage in the first when freshman designated hitter Caleb Rangel (Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) hit an RBI single to score sophomore right fielder Anthony Bazant (Omaha, Neb., Ralston HS) from second base. Coe equaled the game in the second and Ryan Schilser hit a two-run homer that would prove to be the winner with two outs in the fourth.

“We didn’t play well and it’s as simple as that,” said coach Adam Stevens. “We didn’t swing it. We need to have better at bats and improve very fast and be ready tomorrow.”

Senior pitcher Jeremy Kippley (Denison, Denison-Schleswig HS) started the second game for the Dutch and gave up three runs on four hits while striking out one and walking two. His record dipped to 1-3.

The two teams return Sunday for a single game at 1 p.m. at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field in Pella.