Simpson baseball splits with Concordia-Chicago

PHOENIX - Simpson split its doubleheader with Concordia-Chicago at the Russ Matt Greater Phoenix invitational on Saturday, losing game one 6-3 before winning the nightcap, 6-1.

Tyler Crandell led the Storm (4-1) at the plate, going 4-for-7 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Dave Johnson had two RBIs on three hits and Brad Agan went 3-for-7.

Game 1: Concordia 6, Simpson 3
Concordia scored two runs in the sixth inning, breaking a 3-3 tie en-route to the win.

Crandell, Johnson and Agan all had two hits for Simpson. Mike Huyser took the loss, allowing five earned in 5 2/3 innings.

Back-to-back doubles by Derek Binninger and Nick Contorno sparked Concordia's two-run rally in the sixth. Simpson went down in order in the final two innings.

Game 2: Simpson 6, Concordia 1
Simpson sent eight batters to the plate as part of a four-run second inning and Paul Brown threw four scoreless innings in the win.

Zach Smith doubled down the left field line to open the second, Grant Thomas and Ty Larson plated base hits and Johnson roped a two-RBI double.

Justin Svehla had an RBI double in the third and Agan hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Storm. Brown allowed only two hits and struck out four, leaving the game after reaching his predetermined pitch count.

Simpson faces UW-LaCrosse in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. CST on Sunday.