3/8/2010
Written By: Larry Happel, Central College Sports Information Director
Category: Collegiate Corner  

FULTON, MO. — Doug Eisenman (senior, Grundy Center) worked out of a bases-loaded ninth-inning jam and the Central College baseball team silenced Westminster College (Mo.) 6-1 to complete a four-game sweep of weekend games Sunday.
           

Earlier Sunday the Dutch (4-0) hammered Grinnell, 18-6, in seven innings.

Eisenman threw four shutout innings to pick up his first save in relief of freshman Ryan Goetzinger (Mason City), who recorded his first collegiate win in his Central debut. Goetzinger struck out six batters in five innings, scattering five hits while walking one.
           

“Ryan pitched out of a tough jam early and showed what he’s made of,” coach Adam Stevens said. “For a freshman, he showed a lot of toughness out there.”
           

It was the only game of the weekend in which Central was held to less than 14 runs.
           

“The wind was blowing in and they had a really good pitcher throwing,” Stevens said. “It was good to get a close win.”
           

After Central yielded a run in the first, second baseman Ben Tressel (senior, Dubuque, Hempstead HS) launched his first collegiate home run, a shot to right field, to lead off the third inning. Tressel scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, singling, stealing second and scoring on a two-out hit by third baseman Anthony Miller (junior, Davenport, Assumption HS). Right fielder Jarred Lackey (junior, Somerton, Ariz., Cibola HS) had two hits and an RBI in the game and center fielder Ryan Allison (junior, Rock Island, Ill.) had a two-run double in the sixth.
           

In Sunday’s opener against Grinnell, the Dutch bats were still warm from Saturday night’s power display as the Dutch put up an eight-run first inning. The Pioneers struck back with a five-run second inning but Central broke it open with seven more tallies in the third. The Dutch banged out 16 hits in seven innings.
            “Today was an important day to see how we responded coming off Saturday’s games,” Stevens said. “That eight-run first inning was really good to see. We continue to have really good at-bats. I like our approach at the plate. We’re playing very strong defense as well.”
           

Shortstop Mike Furlong (sophomore, Davenport, Assumption HS) continued his torrid start at the plate, going 4-for-6 with four RBIs against Grinnell. Lackey drove in three runs with two hits while catcher Josh Stanton (sophomore, Homer Glen, Ill., Lockport Township HS), second baseman David Lakin (junior, Clinton) and first baseman Jason Hassman (senior, Nora Springs, NSRF HS) each had two hits.
           

Caleb Rangel (junior, Rock Island, Ill., Alleman HS) recorded the win, allowing six runs but only one earned run on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings. Joel Pulliam (sophomore, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) tossed two shutout innings to finish the game.
           

“It’s a good start,” Stevens said. “It was really nice to get outside and find out a little about the things we need to improve and about some of our strengths. We’ve got lots of things to work on before spring break.”
           

Central travels Thursday to Vero Beach, Fla. for eight days at the former Dodgertown complex. The Dutch take on New Jersey City Friday in a nine-inning game Friday at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), then come back with a doubleheader against Gettysburg College (Pa.) Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Central has a single game with Muhlenberg (Pa.) Sunday at 1 p.m., another with St. Mary’s (Md.) March 16 at 1 p.m., with New England (N.H.) March 17 at noon, and again with St. Mary’s March 18 at noon before a doubleheader against Wis.-Superior March 19 at noon. The 10-game slate concludes with a single game against St. Scholastica (Minn.) March 20 at 1:30 p.m.