Late rally lifts Central to 8-4 win over Lawrence

PELLA, Iowa — The Central College baseball team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for an 8-4 nonconference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday.

The second game of the doubleheader was called off due to rain.

Central (7-3) broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the sixth with four runs on only three hits. Two sacrifice flies, a bunt single and Sam Stetzel’s run-scoring single gave the Dutch an 8-4 lead. The Vikings (6-4) got two runners aboard in the top of the seventh but could not score.

Lawrence managed only five hits, and Gabe Henriques went 2-for-3 and drove in a run to pace the Lawrence attack. Davis Ogilvie drove in a pair of runs for the Vikings.

Kelton Jenkins took the loss in relief for the Vikings. He allowed four runs on two hits and got only two outs in the sixth inning. Judson McKown pitched two innings of relief and allowed a pair of hits and a pair of runs to get the win.

Michael Jontz went 3-for-3 and scored three runs for the Dutch. Stetzel was 2-for-3 and drove in two runs for Central.

Lawrence trailed 1-0 before taking a 2-1 lead in the third. Central loaded the bases with three walks before Henriques delivered a single to score Marc Linger. Ogilvie followed with a sacrifice fly and the Vikings led 2-1.

Central tied it with a run in the bottom half of the inning and added another run in the fourth for a 3-2 lead. Lawrence came back and scored twice in the fifth to take the lead.

Linger again started the rally with a walk, and the Vikings loaded the baes witha  bunt single and another walk. Ogilvie lifted another sacrifice fly to score Linger and tie the game at 3-3. Aaron Benz’s infield single then scored Davide Harris for a 4-3 lead.

Central tied the game at 4-4 with a single run bottom of the fifth.

Lawrence is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at MSOE.

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