Long balls help Storm to doubleheader split with Bethany Lutheran

TUCSON, Ariz. — Luke Anctil, Adam Richman and Truman Schmitt went deep in game one and the Simpson baseball team earned a doubleheader split against Bethany Lutheran at the Tucson Invitational on Thursday. Simpson won game one 7-4 and lost the nightcap 8-1.

The Storm (2-6) close their Spring Break trip Friday when they face Marian (W.I.) in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. CT. 

Simpson 7, Bethany Lutheran 4
Simpson hit home runs in three straight innings, getting the go-ahead solo jack off the bat of Richman in the fourth, a two-run insurance blast from Anctil in the fifth and a leadoff shot from Schmitt in the sixth. The Storm opened up a 7-1 lead before Bethany Lutheran made it interesting, but Colin Sexton recorded the final three outs, fanning two to earn the save. 

Anctil finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Trent Dooley went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base. Trey Keho (1-0) went six-plus on the hill, allowing three runs -- all earned -- off six hits with three strikeouts. 

Bethany Lutheran 8, Simpson 1
The bats cooled off in game two as Simpson managed just three hits. Hunter Hillygus had two hits, hitting doubles in the second and fourth. He scored in the fourth on a groundout by Schmitt for the Storm's only run.

Tyler Englehardt (0-2) took the loss, giving up four runs -- all earned -- off five hits in three innings. He walked five and threw two wild pitches. The Vikings took a 4-0 lead after three before Hillygus scored in the fourth. Bethany Lutheran added a run in the home half to make it 5-1 then pulled away with three in the sixth.