Simpson sweeps Central for second straight series win

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College baseball team defeated Central twice in a pair of one-run affairs on Tuesday, collecting its second straight series win in American Rivers Conference action.

The Storm (15-14, 6-9 A-R-C) came from behind to earn a 4-3 walk-off victory in the opener and completed the sweep with a 2-1 win.

Ty Cowley led the team with three hits, including the game-winning single in game one and a double in game two that set up Simpson's first run.

Simpson tallied 26 strikeouts in the doubleheader with 16 of those credited to Brett Kauzlarich, who earned his fifth win of the season in game two. Dunston Werner had two in his two innings of relief, and Zach Hollingsworth and Trey Castile each fanned four in game one.

Game 1: Simpson 4, Central 3
After a couple of key double plays, an RBI-double from Luke Willis, and three strikeouts by Castile, the Storm found themselves trailing 3-2 heading into their final at-bat. Keaton DeKock reached on an error to open the frame, and Simpson quickly had the tying run at third after an errant pickoff attempt allowed pinch runner Cal Gebhart to advance two bags.

The Storm capitalized on the miscue when Matthew Marquez stepped up to the plate and hit a clutch RBI-double to tie the game at 3-3. Central's relief pitcher Landon Thiele managed to retire the next two batters, but a base hit from Cowley into right field allowed Marquez to score from second and Simpson to celebrate its second walk-off win in the last three games.

Castile collected his second-straight victory after striking out four and allowing one run on two hits over the final three innings of the game. Hollingsworth got the starting nod and lasted six innings, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out four. 

Game 2: Simpson 2, Central 1
The Dutch (11-17, 2-16 A-R-C) scored one in the second and managed to maintain their lead until the bottom of the fifth when Cowley doubled, advanced to third on a balk and scored on an error. One inning later, Lucas Juhl gave the Storm a 2-1 advantage with his first career RBI.

Kauzlarich had a career night on the mound, scattering six hits and striking out 16 in 7.0 innings of work. His 16 strikeouts surpassed his previous career-high of 11 and sits tied for the second-most in program history. Werner kept the Dutch off the scoreboard in the final two innings en route to his first save of the season. 

Up Next
Simpson takes on Wartburg in a single game on Saturday before playing its first road doubleheader of the month against the Knights on Sunday.