Burlin homers twice in loss at Grinnell

GRINNELL, Iowa - Austin Burlin hit two home runs but the Simpson baseball team managed just one additional run in an 11-5 midweek loss at Grinnell on Thursday.

Burlin hit almost identical two-run homers over the left field fence in his first two at-bats, bringing his team-leading total to four. The Storm (4-9) also got an RBI single from Jonathan Greiner in the first and led 5-2 before surrendering nine unanswered runs.

Burlin tied the school record for home runs in a game, becoming the first Simpson player to hit two in a game since 2013.

Centerfielder Anthony Mack went 4-for-5 with a triple to lead Grinnell. Matt Hammond and Matt Godinsky added homers for the Pioneers (10-4), who won their fourth straight.

Addison Mock drove in the game-winning run on a single in the fourth, giving Grinnell a 6-5 lead. 

Head coach Ben Blake used the non-conference contest to see a bunch of different arms on the mound, sending seven pitchers into the game. Tyler Englehardt (0-1) was the only hurler to toss more than an inning, going two in the loss.

WARTBURG SERIES PUSHED BACK

Simpson's four-game Iowa Conference series against Wartburg will now be played Saturday and Sunday instead of Friday and Saturday. The teams will play doubleheaders (1x7, 1x9) each day beginning at 1 p.m. at Simpson's McBride Field.

Friday's forecast calls for a high of 49 degrees with temperatures dipping into the 30s during the evening hours. Saturday will be sunny and warmer while Sunday calls for a high of 75.