Anctil, Smith power Storm against AIB

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Jake Anctil and Bud Smith homered as part of a seven-run sixth inning and the Simpson baseball team came back from a four-run deficit to beat AIB 9-4 in the home opener on Thursday afternoon.

Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the Storm (6-3) tied it up on RBI singles by Jake Barr and Jake Esdohr. Anctil - a pinch-hitter - gave Simpson the lead with a three-run shot to left. An AIB error extended the inning before Smith followed up with a two-run bomb over the left field fence.

The win extends Simpson's winning streak to five games after the squad won its last four games at the Tucson Invitational in Arizona last week.

Simpson sent seven relievers to the mound, holding AIB to just one run over the final seven innings. Daultan Gibson earned the win, retiring the Eagles (3-7) in order in the sixth.

AIB played a little long ball to take the early lead as Steven Leverett hit a two-run homer off starter Jalen Sickels as part of a four-run second. Simpson trailed 4-0 until Esdohr's RBI single and Smith's sacrifice fly in the third made it 4-2.

Barr and Tyler Craig finished 3-for-5 and Leverett went 2-for-4 for AIB.

Coe Series Update

Simpson's Iowa Conference opening series against Coe has been altered. The doubleheader scheduled for Friday, March 21 in Cedar Rapids has been postponed to an undetermined date and location. No decision has been made on Saturday's contest, though a decision will be made Friday.