The sting from the closing act will linger, as the odds-defying Central College softball team saw its dream season end Friday, after throwing a scare into top-ranked Linfield University (Ore.) on its home field in the NCAA Division III Super Regional. Following Central’s 4-2, 11-inning stunner Thursday evening, Linfield (48-2) came back to sweep the final two games Friday in devastating fashion, 11-0 and 13-1, both in five innings to take the best-of-three series and gain a spot in next week’s eight-team NCAA Division III Finals in Marshall, Texas.
Linfield’s offensive thunder, stymied in Thursday’s victory by pitcher Emma Beck (sophomore, Holland, Grundy Center HS) and an airtight Central defense, emerged as feared on Friday. The Wildcats unleashed a 24-hit barrage in the two games that included five home runs. There was no hint of suspense in either contest, with the Wildcats jumping on top with two runs in the first inning of the opener and three more in the first inning of the second game.
Beck (16-7) absorbed both losses in limited action. She allowed three runs on two hits in 3.0 innings of the opener and three runs on two hits without retiring a batter in the second game.
She walked six in the two contests and struck out one. The Dutch (33-13) used four pitchers in both contests and had no answers for Linfield’s power display. Central mustered just a fourth-inning single by catcher Rylee Dunkin (freshman, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) in the opener and five hits .