Baseball drops series to Buena Vista

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Iowa Conference leading Buena Vista enjoyed a 34-hit day on the way to a doubleheader sweep of Simpson, winning game one 15-2 and game two 9-2 on Saturday to sweep the four-game series.

The Beavers (23-5, 12-4 Iowa Conference) exploded for a nine-run first inning thanks in-part to a crucial Simpson error in the opener.

Just three of the 10 runs surrendered by starter Kyle Helmerson (1-3) were earned. Josh Pirtle and Jake Esdohr drove in Simpson's only runs.

In game two, Storm (13-15, 6-12) held the reins on the Beavers until giving up six runs combined in the third, fourth and fifth. Simpson countered with one run in the third but wouldn't score again until the ninth. By then, Buena Vista was in control with a 9-1 lead.

Opportunities fell by the way side for both teams as Simpson stranded 14 runners and Buena Vista left 13 men on base. Credit the six-man Buena Vista pitching staff as they silenced the Storm bats in allowing one earned run on the day.

Buena Vista finished with 20 hits as Simpson tallied just five. Jake Scieszinski and Taylor Harmon collected two hits each with Scieszinski knocking in the lone RBI.

Starter Scieszinski (3-2) allowed three earned runs and eight hits through four innings in the losing effort.

The Storm look to snap their six-game losing streak when they go to Luther for a four-game series beginning Friday, April 18. The Norse (10-16, 4-12) went 1-3 against Central over the weekend.