Sampson hits go-ahead home run, Storm rally to beat Hamline

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Joel Sampson hit a go-ahead three-run bomb as part of a six-run seventh inning that propelled the Simpson College baseball team to a 12-10 series finale win over Hamline.

The Storm (4-2) trailed 9-2 at the halfway point of the fourth inning, but managed to rally all the way back with four runs in the home half of the fourth and six in the seventh. Sampson, Ian Baldwin and Nate Cagley all smashed home runs in the comeback effort, while Zach Fuller drove in three runs as well.

FULL SCORING SUMMARY

• Will Carlock drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a double to left field, scoring Joel Sampson from second base.
• Hamline (5-4) scored six runs off four hits and one error in the second inning for a 6-1 advantage.
• The Storm got one run back via an RBI single from Sampson in the home half of the inning.
• After a scoreless third, the Pipers extended their lead to 9-2 with three runs in the top of the fourth.
• Simpson strung together four extra-base hits in the bottom half to pull within three runs, 9-6. Kasey Carter and Zach Fuller both hit doubles, Sampson tripled to left center and Ian Baldwin registered his first collegiate home run.
• Caden Erickson pushed Hamline's lead to four with an RBI single in the sixth before Simpson erupted for six runs in the seventh. Nate Cagley opened the scoring with a home run to centerfield and the Storm quickly loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch.
• Fuller brought two runs home with a single through the left side before Sampson launched one over the fence to lift Simpson to its first lead since the opening frame.
• Eli Feekin worked a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth and Dylan Schlee followed suit with another in the ninth to clinch the series victory.

STARS OF THE GAME

• Joel Sampson: 3 hits (1 triple, 1 home run), 5 RBI, 3 runs
• Zach Fuller: 2 hits (1 double), 3 RBI, 2 runs
• Kasey Carter: 2 hits (1 double), 2 runs
• Nate Cagley: 2 hits (1 home run), 1 run
• Ian Baldwin: 2 hits (1 home run), 1 RBI, 1 run
• Eli Feekin: 2.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
• Dylan Schlee: 1.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks

NOTES

• Simpson registered 10 extra-base hits, the most in at least 15 seasons.
• The Storm's 16 hits were the most since recording 18 against Beloit on March 13, 2023, while their six doubles were the most since tallying nine on April 9, 2022.
• The last time Simpson hit three or more home runs in a single game was during the 2021 season.

UP NEXT
Simpson heads south to play nine games at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida. The Storm's first contests are on Sunday, March 10 against Saint Joseph's.