Loras comes back to beat Storm in IIAC opener

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Austin Konagel scored the winning run on a throwing error in the top of the ninth inning as Loras scored four runs in its final at-bat to beat the Simpson baseball team 10-7 on a cold, wet Saturday evening at McBride Field.

Simpson led 7-6 going into the ninth. Austin Ritter singled and scored on a double by Konagel, then back-to-back errors by the Simpson defense allowed two runs to come in as Loras took the lead for good in the back-and-forth affair.

Hunter Hillygus went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run for the Storm (3-10, 0-1 Iowa Conference), who dropped their third game in a row. Jonathan Greiner also had a pair of hits for Simpson, which led three times throughout the game.

Hillygus broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a two-run bomb to left. Loras came back to take a 6-4 lead on Luke Leibforth's RBI fielder's choice in the seventh before Simpson re-took the lead with three in the home half. Two runs scored after a throwing error and a collision at first base, then Luke Anctil scored the go-ahead run on a double by Truman Schmitt.

Simpson got on the board first for the third straight game, plating two runs in the second inning. Greiner drove in Schmitt on a double to right and came around to score on an infield single by Andy Anderson.

Danny Weis went 4-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the Duhawks (7-6, 1-0). Ben Milks (2-1) got the win in releif and Tyler Tomaka fanned two in the ninth to earn his first save.

Tanner Jansen (1-2) suffered the loss in two innings of relief for the Storm, allowing four runs -- one earned. Trey Kehoe got the start, allowing five runs -- four earned -- off 10 hits in the no-decision.

Up next
Simpson and Loras conclude their three-game set with a doubleheader Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.