Storm sweep Dubuque, qualify for IIAC Tournament

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Tyler Craig drove in four runs in game one, two in game two and the Simpson baseball team swept Dubuque 8-6 and 16-7 on Monday, securing a berth in the Iowa Conference Tournament.

Needing one win to qualify for the tournament going into the day, the Storm (16-21, 12-16 Iowa Conference) used an offensive surge in racking up 24 runs on 26 hits in the doubleheader.

Simpson built an 8-2 lead after six innings in the opener, but surrendered four runs in the seventh before Brett Crable stopped the bleeding and picked up his first save of the season.

Taylor Neff (3-0) allowed two runs off four hits in four innings of work and Matt Pennings cruised through the fifth and sixth innings before running into trouble in the seventh.

Pennings was on his way to a school-record setting seventh save of the season before allowing five hits and a walk to open the seventh.

Crable, Craig, Jake Barr and Josh Pirtle all had two hits in the opener.

The offense struck early and often in game two, using five runs in the first and seven in the third to take a 12-2 lead after three.

Michael Chia went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Ethan Hale drove in three to lead the offense in game two.

Aaron Young (1-5) gave up one hit in 1 1/3 innings to get the win, one of six pitchers to take the hill during the game.