Storm's IIAC tournament run ends with loss to Loras

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - After fighting off elimination with two wins to start the day, the Simpson baseball team ran out of gas in a 12-1, eight inning loss to Loras in the Iowa Conference Tournament on Friday evening.

The fifth-seeded Storm (22-22) quickly became the story of the day when they notched wins over Coe and Wartburg. Simpson eliminated Coe 4-2 in the 10 a.m. game, then came back in the ninth inning to knock off second-seeded Wartburg 7-6 at 4 p.m.

The run ended against the fourth-seeded Duhawks (19-22), who beat Simpson 5-4 in the first game of the tournament on Thursday.

Loras scored seven runs in the first two innings - two in the first and five in the second - to put the game out of reach early.

Jake Barr went 3-for-3 with an RBI, bringing in Simpson's lone run in the fourth inning. Barr - who went 7-for-11 on the day - drove in Michael Chia, who tripled earlier in the frame.

Simpson went through six pitchers, with Jake Scieszinski (3-4) suffering the loss. He gave up seven runs - five earned - in 1 1/3 innings.

The Simpson defense commited six errors which led to four unearned runs.

Nick Battalini had two hits and three RBIs for Loras, which advances to play Central at 10 a.m. on Saturday.