Storm open Spring Break 3-1

PHOENIX – The Simpson baseball team opened play at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational this weekend, going 3-1 with a doubleheader sweep of Rockford on Saturday and a split against Bemidji State on Sunday.

The Storm (3-4) notched 8-2 and 7-0 wins over Rockford on Saturday, lost a 7-4, nine-inning decision in the first game against Bemidji State on Sunday and came back to win the nightcap 5-2.

Simpson 8, Rockford 2
Tyler Craig went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and Kyle Ruehle tossed a five-hitter in the complete-game effort for the Storm. Brett Crable drove in two runs and Tyler Crandell and Grant Thomas each had two hits. Ruehle struck out three and walked seven in Simpson's first win of the season.

Simpson 7, Rockford 0
Aaron Young and Chris Dorff combined for the shutout and Crable broke a scoreless tie with a two-RBI triple in the fifth. Young went six innings, striking out five in the win. Dorff struck out two to close the game in the seventh. Crable finished with three RBIs and Ethan Hale had two hits with an RBI.

Bemidji State 7, Simpson 4 (9 innings)
Simpson got out to a 4-0 lead but couldn't hold on as the Beavers completed the comeback in extra innings. Taylor Nelson highlighted a three-run third with a two-RBI single. Craig and Colton Calvert had two hits apiece and Crable took the loss, pitching the final two innings. Dorff struck out 10 in seven innings.

Simpson 5, Bemidji State 2
Crable drove in the winning run with a two-RBI double in the fourth and Jose Rodriguez held the Beavers to five hits and two runs in 4.1 innings on the mound. Tyler Pawletzki went 2-for-2 with two RBIs while Nelson, Crandell and Hale all had two hits. Brian Birks threw 2.2 innings of hitless ball to pick up the save.