Brown, Ruehle handcuff Cornell in Simpson sweep

INDIANOLA - Paul Brown threw a complete-game three-hitter in game one and Kyle Ruehle answered with a complete-game four-hitter in game two as Simpson beat Cornell 2-0 and 11-1 on Saturday at McBride Field.

After allowing 30 runs and committing 19 errors in the last four games, the Storm (17-8, 10-3 Iowa Conference) committed only one error on Saturday while remaining undefeated at home and atop the Iowa Conference standings. In six games at McBride Field this year, Simpson has outscored opponents 39-2 and own a team ERA of 0.21.

The opener was a pitcher's duel between Brown and Cornell's Charlie Muir. Neither team moved a runner past first base until the fourth inning and Simpson scored the first run of the game in the fifth when pinch runner Taylor Nelson took two bases on a wild pitch.

A double by Dave Johnson added an insurance run in the sixth, more than enough breathing room for Brown (4-2). The senior struck out seven and didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position throughout the game. Johnson and Tyler Crandell each had two hits.

Ruehle allowed a run in the first inning of the nightcap but settled down from there, retiring 17 of the next 20 batters. Simpson's bats woke up in game two, as the team pounded out 13 hits and took advantage of five Cornell errors.

Crandell, Johnson, Colton Calvert and Blake Heitmeier all drove in two runs and Johnson and Justin Svehla each went 3-for-4. Ethan Hale doubled in the fifth inning and Crandell stole his team-leading 13th base of the season, making him a perfect 13-for-13 on the year.

Ruehle (2-1) struck out a career-high six batters and issued one walk, allowing four hits.

Matt Pfister scored the only run of the game for the Rams (3-15, 1-10), sneaking home while Zach Rogers was caught in a rundown between first and second.

Simpson and Cornell complete their three-game series Sunday in a 1 p.m. start at McBride Field.