1	2	3	4	5	6	7				R	H	E
Wheaton	0	0	0	0	0	0	1				1	7	2
Central	0	0	0	2	0	3					5	7	2

Central knocks out Wheaton 5-1 to reach title game vs. Muskingum

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Central scored twice in the fourth and three times in the sixth to knock out Wheaton in the final loser's bracket elimination game of the NCAA Division III National Championships on Saturday, earning the Dutch a rematch with Muskingum in the national title game.

The Lady Muskies shut out Central 2-0 on Friday to reach this afternoon's championship as the tournament's only unbeaten team. Central showed no ill effects from that loss, tagging Wheaton pitcher Jackie Demling for seven hits — including three in both the fourth and sixth innings.

Central's Denise Barnard and Mandy Jens picked up back-to-back one-out infield singles in the fourth, with Barnard scoring on an RBI single from Annie Van Wetzinga and Jens coming across on Kelly Oliver's RBI groundout.

The Dutch (41-9) then put the game out of reach with their three-run sixth inning. Molly Parrott led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Barnard. Jens reached base on a bunt single and Parrott dashed home from second with Jens taking second on the throw home. Van Wetzinga was hit by a pitch and Jens and Van Wetzinga were sacrificed to third and second respectively by Oliver. Jens then scored on Missy Voight's single and Van Wetzinga came home at the end of a double steal to close out Central's scoring.

Wheaton, which closes out its season with a 42-9 record, foiled Libby Hysel's shutout bid in the top of the seventh as Camella Ranieri, who reached on a Central error to open the inning, scored from third on Central shortstop Beth Peterson's error.

Hysell finished with the seven-hit complete-game win, improving her overall record to 24-7. She did not walk a batter and struck out five.