Storm close RussMatt Invitational

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Simpson baseball team closed play at the RussMatt Greater Phoenix Invitational on Friday with a 4-3 walk-off loss to Marian (Wis.).

The Storm (6-8) went 1-2 in their final three games, splitting with St. Mary's (Minn.) on Thursday. Simpson won game one 7-6 before dropping the nightcap, 4-3.

Simpson closed play 6-5 on the Spring Break trip.

Simpson 7, St. Mary's 6
Taylor Nelson drew a bases-loaded walk to score the eventual winning run as the Storm held on for the win in game one of Thursday's doubleheader. Trailing 4-3 in the fifth, Tyler Crandell produced an RBI double and Tyler Pawletzki drove in a run with a sacrifice. A sac fly from Ethan Hale and Nelson's walk in the sixth gave Simpson a 7-4 lead before surrendering two in the seventh. Jose Rodriguez got the win, striking out six in 5 1/3 innings. Chris Dorff pitched the final inning for the save.

St. Mary's 4, Simpson 2
Blake Heitmeier's RBI double gave the Storm a 2-1 lead in the fourth but St. Mary's scored two in the sixth and one in the seventh for the win. Grant Thomas had two hits and Dorff suffered the loss despite striking out 10 in the complete-game effort.

Marian 4, Simpson 3
Matt Bromley hit a walk-off, RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to lift Marian to the 4-3 win. The Storm took advantage of a Marian error in the sixth to score two unearned runs for a 3-2 lead before Marian tied it in the bottom half. Michael Chia went 2-for-4 with a double while Tyler Craig, Pawletzki and Brett Crable all had two hits. Aaron Young was the hard-luck loser, striking out nine in the complete-game.

The Storm open Iowa Conference play Friday, March 23 when they host Loras at McBride Field in a 6 p.m. start. The two teams finish the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24.