Pennings gem helps Storm split with Luther

DECORAH, Iowa - Matt Pennings threw a complete-game gem in the nightcap as the Simpson baseball team split a doubleheader with Luther, winning game two 4-2 after a 4-3 setback in game one Friday.

Tyler Craig had two RBIs, Michael Chia went 3-for-4 with two doubles and Pennings struck out four in the game-two win for the Storm (14-16, 7-13 Iowa Conference).

Pennings (4-3) scattered four hits over nine innings, allowing two unearned runs thanks to five Simpson errors.

Simpson trailed 1-0 in the fifth before putting three on the board. Craig drove in a run on an RBI groundout and Jake Barr singled in a run for a 3-1 Simpson lead.

Craig drove in his second run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the ninth, giving Simpson a 4-2 lead. Josh Pirtle scored on the play after leading off the inning with a triple.

Kyle Helmerson cruised through the first four innigns in game one, allowing just two hits before running into trouble in the fifth.

Simpson led 2-0 after the fourth before the Norse (11-17, 5-13) plated three runs thanks to three doubles. David Lowe and Carlos Pinedo plated RBI doubles to give Luther the 3-2 lead.

A Pirtle singled tied the score 3-3 in the top of the sixth, but Pittman drove in the game-winning run on a fielder's choice in the home half and Alec Knop (5-1) got Chia to pop out for the third out of the seventh in the complete-game win.

Helmerson (1-4) gave up four runs off seven hits and Pirtle went 2-for-3. Bud Smith also drove in a run.

Simpson and Luther complete their four-game series Saturday beginning at Noon in Decorah.