Megan Swingen April 10, 2009

Dutch record two shutout victories over Simpson

INDIANOLA—Central College pitchers Kylie Lythberg (sophomore, Mount Prospect, Ill.) and Megan Swingen (senior, Woden, Woden-Crystal Lake HS) fired back-to-back three-hit softball shutouts to silence Simpson College Friday 4-0 and 10-0 (six innings). Meanwhile left fielder Hannah Weindruch (senior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) supplied a big chunk of the offense with four extra-base hits and five RBIs. The sixth-rated Dutch improved to 23-3 overall and 6-2 in the Iowa Conference in sweeping Simpson (21-13 overall, 2-6 conference) for the first time since 2004.

Central’s increasingly stingy defense played a big role as well with a pair of errorless games and some sparkling plays in the field. The Dutch extended their errorless innings streak to 37.

Lythberg (10-1) struck out six and walked three in the opener. Central left the bases loaded in the first inning but finally broke through in the fourth with first baseman Katie Tenboer’s (sophomore, Morrison, Ill.) run-scoring double. Weindruch’s double brought home a run in the two-run fifth inning. The Dutch finished the scoring in the seventh when third baseman Afton Nelson (junior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) singled and eventually scored on a bunt single by center fielder Alysha Overturf (senior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS).

Simpson loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but Nelson snagged a hard ground ball at third and was able to tag the runner heading for home, then fire to first for a game-ending double play.

“That play Afton made to end the game is typical of the kind of plays we’ve been making,” coach George Wares said. “That makes such a difference for your pitchers.”

The Dutch unleashed a 14-hit attack in the nightcap. Designated player Rachael Everingham (freshman, Georgetown, Ill., Ridge Farm HS) belted a two-run homer, the first of her collegiate career, to get Central started in the second inning. Weindruch, who doubled and scored on Everingham’s blast, knocked in another run with a double in the third, then scored on two-run bomb by Overturf, deep over the left field fence. It was Overturf’s second homer of the season.

Shortstop Kelsey Wright (freshman, Gilbertville, Don Bosco HS) had an RBI single in the fourth inning and the Dutch brought four more home in the sixth. Weindruch laced a three-run triple down the right field line.

Swingen (9-1) had no walks and struck out five in six innings for her first shutout of the season.

Ryann Engholm (senior, Bloomington, Minn., Thomas Jefferson HS) got the start in right field Friday and singled in the first inning of the second game to reach the 100-career hit plateau.

“We didn’t have a lot of offense in the first game but we did get a combination of clutch hits and aggressive baserunning,” Wares said. “In the second game, we showed some power and Hannah (Weindruch) really got on a roll.”

But Central isn’t yet through with a demanding 10-game, 11-day stretch. The Dutch returned home Friday night and hit the road again early Saturday morning for a 2 p.m. league doubleheader at the Univ. of Dubuque. The Spartans are 7-15 overall and 2-6 in the conference, but Wares said it’s a dangerous club the Dutch will face on short rest Saturday. Dubuque split with league contender Coe College and stunned No. 14 Wis.-Whitewater earlier in the week.

“It’s an understatement to say that Saturday is huge,” Wares said. “Dubuque is much improved. We don’t want to give back what we did today.”