Storm walk-off Nebraska Wesleyan in doubleheader split

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Nathan Carlin drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning and the Simpson baseball team beat Nebraska Wesleyan 4-3 in game two of an Iowa Conference doubleheader on a chilly Thursday night at McBride Field. Nebraska Wesleyan won game one 13-6.

Both teams snapped losing streaks on the day, as the Prairie Wolves (5-16, 1-9) put an end to an eight-game skid and the Storm (3-18, 2-8) halted their slide at seven games.

The teams conclude their three-game series with a single game Saturday, April 7. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Game One

Nebraska Wesleyan 13, Simpson 6

How it Happened
• Nebraska Wesleyan built a 7-2 lead in the third inning but Simpson battled back, pulling within 7-5 when Kolton Arnold scored on a throwing error in the fourth. Arnold doubled earlier in the inning, scoring Nathan Carlin.

• The Prairie Wolves extended the lead back to three runs but a sacrifice fly by Brandon Urias made it 8-6 after the fifth.

• Brook Johnson put a damper on Simpson's comeback hopes with a three-RBI triple in the ninth, extending the lead to 11-6.

• Scott Meier scored his first run of the game on a double play in the bottom of the first inning, tying the game 2-2.

• Nebraska Wesleyan built its five-run lead with four runs in the third, getting two off a Joel Maxwell single. Storm starter Cameron Liston was chased with two outs in the frame.

Top Offensive Performances
Scott Meier — 3-5, 2 R
Kolton Arnold — 1-4, 2B, RBI, R
Hunter Hillygus — 1-4, RBI, R

Pitching Breakdown
Cameron Liston — L (0-2), 2.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks
Curt Castenson — 6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 6 Ks
Devon Veach — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Game Two

Simpson 4, Nebraska Wesleyan 3

How it Happened
• Nathan Carlin hit a walk-off, RBI single to right in the 12th, scoring Truman Schmitt from second. Schmitt used a head-first slide to evade the tag by Jared Scdoris, setting off a celebration to conclude the 4 hour, 20 minute affair. Schmitt singled to lead off the frame and moved to second on Arnold's sacrifice bunt.

• Simpson got stellar performances out of relievers Colin Sexton and Jonathan Sailstad, who combined to strike out six while allowing just two hits in the final four innings. The Prairie Wolves scored the game-tying run in the ninth with Sexton on the hill, but he didn't allow a runner past first in his final two innings. Sailstad earned the win after working a 1-2-3 12th.

• The Storm trailed 2-1 in the seventh before Hillygus laced a two-RBI double into the left field corner for a 3-2 lead. Jared Herzog made the score 1-1 in the third when he scored on a wild pitch after plating a triple to lead off the inning.

• Trey Kehoe enjoyed his best start of the season, scattering eight hits over seven innings. His six strikeouts tied a career-high set at Monmouth on March 18.

Top Offensive Performances
Scott Meier — 3-6
Hunter Hillygus — 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs
Jared Herzog — 2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 R
Noah Sacco — 2-5, R
Nathan Carlin — 2-5, GW RBI

Pitching Breakdown
Trey Kehoe — 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 Ks
Michael Sunga — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks
Colin Sexton — 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 Ks
Jonathan Sailstad — W (1-1), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K