Storm can’t hold early lead in loss to Central

PELLA, Iowa -- The Simpson baseball team raced out to an early three-run lead but Central came back with nine runs in the final three innings as the Storm fell 13-9 Friday in game one of a three-game Iowa Conference series.

Simpson led 7-4 until Central scored five in the sixth. Leading 11-9 in the eighth, Tanner Wood hit a two-run home run to right to put the game away for the Dutch (12-15, 3-8).

Tyler Steward got the win in relief for Central, slowing down Simpson's bats after a hot start. He gave up two runs on three hits in four innings.

Jared Herzog and Kolton Arnold had three hits apiece for the Storm (4-24, 2-13), who scored seven runs in the first four innings thanks in large part to four in the second.

After scoring twice in the first, Brandon Urias and Herzog opened the second with back-to-back singles. Noah Sacco drove in a run on a sacrifice fly before Trey Kehoe's RBI double. Nathan Carlin drew a bases-loaded walk and Simpson added another run on an outfield error to build a 6-4 lead.

Arnold's RBI double made it 7-4 in the fourth.

Tom Kunzer suffered the loss in relief, giving up four runs -- all earned -- in 4 2/3 innings. He came in for starter Tanner Jansen, who lasted just one inning, allowing four runs -- all earned -- off three hits and three walks.

Sacco and Kehoe had two hits apiece for Simpson.

Top Offensive Performances
Kolton Arnold — 3-4, 2B, 2 RBIs
Jared Herzog — 3-6, 3 R
Noah Sacco — 2-5, 2B, 2 RBIs
Trey Kehoe — 2-4, 2B, RBOI

Pitching Breakdown
Tanner Jansen — 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 Ks
Tom Kunzer — L (0-2), 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 Ks
Colin Sexton — 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 Ks
J Lowery — 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks

Up Next
Simpson and Central close their three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at athletics.central.edu and live video will be available on the Central College Dutch Facebook page.