Derek Knutson March 25, 2009

Central trips Grinnell in home opener

PELLA—The Central College baseball team took the field at the A.N. Kuyper Athletic Complex for the first time in 2009 and topped Grinnell College 6-2 Wednesday.

After walking Grinnell leadoff hitter Chad Takabuki to start the game and giving up a double to second baseman Michael Goldfien, Central starting pitcher Joel Pulliam (freshman, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) settled down, retiring the next three batters and limiting the damage to one run.

Central got on the board in the third inning when senior first baseman Derek Knutson (Richland, Wash., Yorkville (Ill.) HS) drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded to score second baseman Mike Furlong (freshman, Davenport, Assumption HS) and tie the game.

The Dutch then took the lead in the fourth inning scoring three runs with two outs. After a pair of groundouts, freshman shortstop Tyler Wivinis (Downers Grove, Ill., South HS) walked and junior center fielder Ben Tressel (Dubuque, Hempstead HS) singled to put runners on first and second. Furlong drove in both runners with a long drive that one-hopped the fence in left field and advanced to third on the throw to home. Sophomore left fielder Caleb Rangel (Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) followed that with a double of his own to drive in Furlong.

With Central ahead 4-1 in the fifth Pulliam ran into trouble again. Grinnell singled twice to start the inning and loaded the bases when Takabuki drew a walk, prompting Central coach Adam Stevens to bring in junior Doug Eisenman (Grundy Center). Eisenman wasted no time brining Grinnell’s rally to a halt, snaring a comebacker up the middle and throwing to catcher Quinn O’Brien (senior, Caroll, Kuemper HS) who turned and fired to Knutson at first base for the 1-2-3 double-play, and then struck out No. 3-hitter Paden Roder to end the inning.

Grinnell (9-6 overall) cut into Central’s lead with a single run in the seventh, but the Dutch put up two runs in their half of the seventh a passed ball with runners on second and third allowed Rangel to cross the plate, and a single by third baseman Anthony Miller (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) brought in pinch-runner B.J. Pilling (senior, Denison).

Pulliam allowed one run on four hits in four innings work, walking four and striking out two. Eisenman (2-0) picked up the win in three innings of work, allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out two. Central (9-5 overall, 2-1 Iowa Conference) hosts league rival Loras College (10-5 overall, 2-1 conference) for a three-game series this weekend. After splitting their regular season series last year, Loras knocked the Dutch out of the conference tournament winning 10-3. The first game will begin Friday at 3 p.m.