Storm drop pair of 1-run heartbreakers to Coe

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Simpson baseball team came up on the short end of two one-run decisions on Saturday, losing to Coe 3-2 in game one and 5-4 in 10 innings in game two.

The doubleheader sweep gives Coe the 2-1 series win after Simpson won 10-6 on Friday night.

Michael Chia went 3-for-7 with a run scored to lead the Storm (12-13, 6-5 Iowa Conference), who fell a game behind Coe in the league standings.

Sean Raisch finished 3-for-8 with an RBI for the Kohawks (14-8, 7-4).

Simpson took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh in game one before the defense faltered.

Coe scored two runs in the inning without recording a hit. After a dropped fly ball and a walk put two runners on, Jose Rodriguez came in for starter Kyle Ruehle. Another fielding error loaded the bases before the tying run scored on a hit by pitch. Two batters later the winning run scored on a wild pitch.

Ruehle didn't get a decision in game one, yielding only three runs – two earned – in six innings. Rodriguez shouldered the loss and Brett Crable went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Coe returned the favor in the seventh inning of game two, allowing the Storm to plate two unearned runs and force extras. With two outs, two on and Simpson trailing 4-2, Crable reached on an error by the first baseman (Coe's second error of the inning) to keep the game alive. Jake Barr roped a two-RBI double in the next at-bat to tie the game.

Nick Stein drove in the winning run on a single in the bottom of the 10^th.

Aaron Young went the distance in the game two loss, falling to 3-3 on the year. He gave up five runs – three earned – off eight hits, striking out four and walking nine. Barr finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Simpson returns home Wednesday, April 11 when it hosts Central in a single, nine-inning game beginning at 6 p.m.