Simpson eliminates defending champions

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Mike Huyser thew his fifth complete game of the season, Tyler Crandell had two hits and two RBIs and No. 4 seeded Simpson beat No. 2 seeded Buena Vista in an elimination game Friday night at the Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament from Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Storm (23-17), who lost all three regular season contests against the defending conference champions, advance to play No. 3 seeded Wartburg on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Huyser (Indianola, Iowa) allowed three runs - two earned - and scattered seven hits on the night. The right-hander (6-5) struck out four and surrendered only four hits after the first inning.

The Simpson defense backed Huyser with four, inning-ending double plays on the day, two of which started with Ethan Hale (Clive, Iowa). The sophomore second baseman started 4-6-3 double plays in the first and eighth innings, shortstop Dave Johnson (West Des Moines, Iowa) ended the fifth on a line-drive double play and first baseman Justin Svehla (Lincoln, Neb.) started a 3-6-3 double play to end the sixth.

Crandell (Ames, Iowa) finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, driving in the first run of the game with a double down the left field line in the top of the first. He also singled in a run in the third.

Colton Calvert (St. Charles, Iowa) drove in two runs off 1-for-3 hitting and Johnson went 2-for-5 with a double.

Brad Blum and Brock Yossi each had two hits for the Beavers (28-15). Reggie Kock (3-3) took the loss, allowing six runs off six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Leading 3-2 after the first, Simpson added three more in the third inning. Johnson led off with a double and scored on Crandell's single one batter later. Calvert drove in a run on a groundout and Jake Barr (Henderson, Nev.) singled in the third run of the inning. A single by Zach Smith (Indianola, Iowa) gave the Storm their final run of the game in the eighth.