Central College baseball April 30, 2008

Cornell rallies to take two from Central baseball team

MOUNT VERNON—Cornell College squeaked by the Central College baseball team 4-2 and 8-7 Wednesday in an Iowa Conference doubleheader.  

The Dutch (17-19 overall, 7-13 conference) squandered a 6-2 lead after two innings in game two as the Rams (12-14 overall, 6-11 conference) plated six runs in the last two innings to secure the sweep.

In the nightcap, senior pitcher Jeremy Kippley (Denison, Denison-Schleswig HS) started and went four innings, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking one. Freshman Kristofer Ozga (Hawthorn Woods, Ill., Stevenson HS) took the loss after giving up three earned runs to drop his record to 1-2.

Coach Adam Stevens felt each team’s final inning batting in game two symbolized the day. With two outs and the bases full of Rams in the sixth, Cornell’s Tyler Downing hit a three-run double to score what would prove to be the decisive run. In the top of the seventh, with the bases loaded, the Dutch grounded into a game-ending double play.

“Both games could have gone either way,” said Stevens. “We got a couple of bad breaks and it just wasn’t our day.”

Central saw a pair of freshmen have nice days at the plate. Designated hitter Caleb Rangel (Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) went 3-for-7 over the twinbill with a run scored and three knocked in. Right fielder Jarred Lackey (Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS) got his third start of the season in the second game and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs.

“Jarred was really a sparkplug for us in the second game,” said Stevens.

In the opener the Dutch were leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth when the Rams struck for three. Sophomore pitcher Trevor Talbott (Sioux City, East HS) started the game and went 4.1 innings while giving up four earned runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking none. He took the loss and dropped to 3-3.

The Dutch return Friday when they travel to Dubuque to battle Dubuque University (14-22 overall, 7-13 conference) for an important conference series. Last season Central took two of three from the Spartans.