Simpson unable to hand Norse first conference loss

DECORAH, Iowa – The Simpson College baseball team came close but fell shy of handing Luther its first American Rivers Conference loss of the season on Saturday. The Norse started the day with a 2-1 win in walkoff fashion and pulled away from the Storm late in game two to finish out the series with a 6-1 victory.

Game 1: Luther 2, Simpson 1
Both squads registered their first hit of the game in the fourth inning but only Luther (17-8, 10-0 A-R-C) was able to capitalize as Aiden Michna hit a double to left field to score Noah Sebben who was hit by pitch to start the home half of the frame.

Simpson (11-15, 1-9 A-R-C) tied the game with an RBI double of its own in the seventh inning. Brennen Lemke drew a one-out walk and pinch runner Dalton Ferrin advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt before scoring on a double by Lucas Juhl. The Norse opened the ninth with a pair of singles before claiming the walk-off victory via an infield error.

Trey Castile allowed just two hits and one walk in his 7.0 innings of work, striking out seven to bring his season total to 50. Juhl led the offense with two hits.

Game 2: Luther 6, Simpson 1
The Storm knotted things up at 1-1 again in the second game, this time in the sixth inning. Brady Held reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a passed ball and came home on Ty Cowley's single to shallow left field.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Luther took the lead right back with an RBI double in the bottom half. The Norse would add one more run before the inning was over and tacked on three insurance runs between the seventh and eighth for the series sweep.

Up Next
Simpson opens up a four-game home stretch on Tuesday night against Loras. The Storm and Duhawks split a doubleheader back on March 28. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.