WAVERLY, Iowa-- Wartburg (15-2 overall, 5-1 IIAC) split the first Iowa Conference doubleheader in the weekend series against Central (5-7, 1-1) Friday.

The Dutch claimed the opener, 3-2, which brought the Knights' 14-game winning streak to a halt.

Central took the early 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double and the Orange and Black evened the score in the second on a fielding error. The Dutch took the 2-1 lead in the fifth, but Wartburg answered again in the sixth as junior Ryan Kemp (Keokuk) hit a triple and then was brought in by senior DJ Utley (Cedar Rapids).

Central scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly. In their last at-bats, the Knights got a leadoff single, but the next three batters were retired in order to give the first game to the visitors.

In the second game, the Dutch once again took the early lead, this time scoring three runs in the first. The Orange and Black sliced the margin to one as junior Milton Croes (Noord, Aruba) slugged a two-run homer in the second.

Senior Jackson Litterer (Waverly) evened the game in the fifth as he reached base on a hit by pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then was awarded home on a balk.

Wartburg tallied its final two runs in the seventh on as many hits.

The two teams return to the field tomorrow for the final doubleheader in the series.