Simpson clinches season series against Nebraska Wesleyan

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson College baseball clinched the season series against Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday. After sweeping the doubleheader on Friday, the Storm split the twinbill on McBride Field to end the weekend.

The Prairie Wolves (9-22, 7-17 A-R-C) grabbed a 6-2 triumph in the opener, before Simpson (10-16, 7-13 A-R-C) answered with a 6-4 victory to take three of four in the series.

Game One: Nebraska Wesleyan 6, Simpson 2
After Trey Castile struck out two batters in the top of the first, Noah Sacco started their half of the inning with a double to left center. Sacco later scored from an RBI groundout by Brady Held to make it a 1-0 contest.

Nebraska Wesleyan pulled off a two-out rally to tie the game at 1-1 in the second as Simpson committed two errors in the frame to help its opponent.

The two American Rivers Conference foes remained scoreless until Kaleb Knox belted a two-run shot that stayed just inside the foul pole to give the visitors a 3-1 tilt in the fifth. The Prairie Wolves added to their lead with another run later in the inning, before Simpson turned a double play to end the rally.

The top of the sixth provided Nebraska Wesleyan two more runs to push its lead to 6-1. Josh Breitbarth scored on a passed ball in the bottom half to double the team's score.

Simpson had a late rally stall in the seventh with two runners in scoring position.

Sacco ended with three hits from his leadoff spot, while Chris Miller tallied two base knocks. Castile struck out six batters and allowed five hits.

Game Two: Simpson 6, Nebraska Wesleyan 4
Both teams were quiet through the first stanza in game two. Brady Leonard tallied two strikeouts and had three in row over the course of the first four outs.

In the bottom of the second, the offense clubbed four hits to tally four runs in the frame. Sacco delivered a two-run double, while Ryan Willis and Miller each drove in a runner.

The visitors added a run in the third to end the drought. The Storm responded with two runs when Breitbarth scored on a wild pitch and Willis had another RBI.

Nebraska Wesleyan loaded the bases to start the sixth inning. Its offense was rewarded with three runs in the frame to trim the deficit to 6-4. Brett Kauzlarich was called in to relieve Leonard on the hill and grabbed the final two outs to avoid more damage.

Over the next two innings, Kaulazrich allowed one batter to reach and tallied three strikeouts. In the ninth, the senior closed the door after two runners reached early in the frame to earn his third save of the season and second in two days.

Leonard tallied six strikeouts in his first triumph of the season.

Up Next
Simpson's four-game series at Luther begins this Friday in Decorah, Iowa. The first doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.