Storm sweep Wartburg at McBride Field

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Brady Held hit a go-ahead home run in game one, Dallas Jackson threw six scoreless innings in game two, and the Simpson College baseball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Wartburg on Friday at McBride Field.

The Storm (13-16, 3-10 A-R-C) started hot in each contest but were forced to turn away comebacks in each as Wartburg (8-14, 3-10 A-R-C) didn't go down easily and either tied or pulled within one late in both games. Nonetheless, the home team prevailed 14-10 in the first game and took the nightcap 7-6 for its first series win over the Knights since 2009.

Simpson registered 24 hits on the day and was led offensively by Lucas Juhl who accounted for five hits and nine RBIs. He was 2-for-4 with six RBIs in the opener and followed that with a 3-for-5 game in which he added three more RBIs. His six RBIs were the most in one game since current assistant coach Josh Breitbarth registered six against Nebraska Wesleyan on April 23, 2021. Only four other players have recorded 6+ RBI games in program history.

Will Carlock also had an impressive day at the plate with six hits and three RBIs between the two games. Held was 3-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer and four runs scored in the opener.

Game 1: Simpson 14, Wartburg 10
Simpson's offense got off to an electric start as the Storm rushed out to a 7-0 advantage, with six of those seven runs coming before Wartburg had even recorded an out. The scoring was highlighted by a two-run single up the middle from Carlock and bases-clearing double down the left field line by Juhl. Aiden Rupprecht and Ian Baldwin added RBI singles as well.

The Storm picked up right where they left off and added two more runs to their total in the second. Held led things off with a single and Carlock drew a walk before Rupprecht poked a base hit through the right side to stretch the lead to 8-0. Carlock later scored on a sacrifice fly by Juhl, who quickly had four RBIs through his first two at-bats.

Over the next two innings, Wartburg took advantage of a couple bases-loaded walks and a grand slam by Zach Walton to pull within three, 9-6. Carlock brought Held home from second in the bottom of the fourth, but the Knights continued to chip away at the lead and were eventually able to knot the game at 10-all.

In the home half of the eighth, Matthew Marquez drew a one-out walk before Held put Simpson ahead for good with a huge two-run shot over the right field fence. Juhl put the icing on the cake a few batters later with his second double of the game, recording RBIs five and six in the process. Dylan Schlee, who came in prior to the eighth inning, closed out the game by coaxing a foul out, a fly out and a strikeout.

Simpson had a trio of batters recorded three hits, with Held leading the way with a home run and a double. Carlock and Rupprecht were the other two to register three hits, combining for five RBIs and three runs scored.

Game 2: Simpson 7, Wartburg 6
The Storm built up a 7-0 lead in the second game as well, but this time over the course of seven innings. Juhl continued his hot day at the plate with RBI singles in the first, fifth and seventh frames, while Marquez, Joel Sampson and Baldwin all drove home runs as well.

The Knights scored three runs on three hits in the eighth and trimmed the deficit down to one with a three-run double by Walton in the ninth with nobody out. Junior Cody Grasmick then entered the game and retired three straight batters to clinch the series win.

Carlock, Juhl and Marquez all tallied three hits in five at-bats as Simpson amassed at least a dozen hits for the third consecutive game.

Jackson made his seventh start of the season and threw six scoreless innings, striking out six batters while giving up five hits and two walks. Andrew Weig and Dante Dolash both pitched in relief before Grasmick went in and earned his first career save.

Up Next
Saturday's series finale has been moved up to a 10 a.m. start. Fans unable to attend the game live can follow along on SimpsonAthletics.com or by tuning into the KNIA3 stream.