Storm edged by Titans, 6-5

DAVENPORT, Fla. – Joel Sampson scored three times and registered a pair of extra-base hits, but the Simpson College baseball team was edged 6-5 by Illinois Wesleyan on Thursday.

A two-run double by Ian Baldwin gave Simpson (6-6) a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but the Titans (8-3) plated three runs in the home half to take the lead for good.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Will Carlock doubled in a run early in the first inning, scoring Joel Sampson who opened the game with his seventh walk of the season.
• The Titans (8-3) tallied four hits in the bottom of the frame, including a two-run double from Jacob Cyrus for a 2-1 advantage.
• Sampson reached base again via a hit-by-pitch and stole second base before scoring the tying run on Carlock's sacrifice fly to left field in the third. He later brought Tyson McAlexander home with an RBI triple to put Simpson back in front, 3-2, in the fifth.
• Illinois Wesleyan leveled the game with an unearned run in the sixth, but the Storm responded with two runs the next half inning thanks to a single from McAlexander as well as doubles from Sampson and Ian Baldwin.
• The Titans scored the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh

STORM LEADERS

• Joel Sampson: 2 hits (1 double, 1 triple), 1 RBI, 3 runs, 1 walk
• Ian Baldwin: 2 hits (1 double), 2 RBI
• Will Carlock: 1 hit (1 double), 2 RBI
• Eli Feekin: 6.0 IP, 9 strikeouts

UP NEXT
Simpson plays two games against Minn.-Morris on Friday beginning at 1:30 p.m.