Coe takes third game, series from Storm

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Simpson shortstop Dave Johnson (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) hit his sixth home run of the season but Coe got a quality start from Kevin Baranowski and two RBIs from Ryan Velvick in a 5-2 win at Daniels Park Monday afternoon.

The Kohawks (11-7, 4-2 IIAC) took a 2-1 series win despite committing five errors in the nine-inning contest. Simpson and Coe split a doubleheader Saturday.

Baranowski got the win, keeping Simpson's bats at bay by allowing two runs – one earned – off six hits in seven innings. Ben Strellner closed the game, picking up the save after yielding only two hits.

Johnson got the Storm (10-7, 4-2) on the board in the first inning, reaching on an error and scoring on another infield error. His sixth-inning home run accounted for all of Simpson's offense. Second baseman Zach Smith (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) was the only Simpson player to record multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

Kyle Hanna (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) was the first of four Storm pitchers to see time, taking the loss. Hanna (2-2) went 4 1/3 innings, surrendering five hits and three runs – all earned.

After Simpson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Coe's Ryan Vevlick connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to give the Kohawks a 2-1 lead. Coe pulled away with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.