Simpson swept by Coe on the road

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After dropping a heartbreaker to start the day, the Simpson College baseball team was swept in the series doubleheader with league-leading Coe.

The two teams began a busy afternoon by resuming the series opener from Saturday, which was suspended in the top of the ninth with Simpson leading 5-4. After tying the game with back-to-back doubles to start the home half of the ninth, Coe walked it off in the 13th inning with an unearned run.

The Kohawks won the second game of the series 10-4 as well as the third game 12-2 (7 innings).

GAME ONE SUMMARY

• Ian Baldwin sent the first pitch of the game into left field and later scored along with Nate Cagley on a two-run double by Zach Fuller, giving Simpson a 2-0 lead early in the first.
• Coe (24-12, 16-4 A-R-C) answered with an unearned run in the bottom half and went ahead 3-2 with a two-run double by Tyce Johnson in the third.
• After a 1-2-3 inning for both teams, the Storm (15-21, 8-13 A-R-C) used a trio of hits as well as a passed ball to regain the edge at 4-3.
• Johnson came up clutch for the Kohawks again in the fifth, singling another run home to even the game at 4-4. It wasn't long until Simpson went back in front, however, as a leadoff triple by Dalton Ferrin followed by a single from Will Carlock placed the score 5-4 in the Storm's favor.
• Simpson left four runners on between the seventh and eighth while relief pitchers Dylan Schlee and Eli Feekin continued to shut down Coe's offense. After a weather delay, Simpson looked to add insurance and had a runner on second base before the game was called due to storms.
• When play resumed on Monday, the Kohawks picked up the final out of the top of the ninth and used two straight doubles to tie the game at 5-5 and force extras.
• Simpson had a baserunner in each of the next four innings, but could not get past second base. With two outs in the bottom of the 13th, Coe took advantage of a walk and Storm error to steal the victory.
• The Storm tallied a season-high 18 hits in the loss.

GAME TWO SUMMARY

• The Kohawks built a 6-0 lead fueled by four runs on three hits in the fifth.
• Dalton Ferrin scored Simpson's first run of the game on a passed ball after doubling to right center and advancing to third on a groundout.
• The home team put together another four-run frame in the eighth to extend its lead to 10-1. All four runs were unearned.
• The Storm loaded the bases to start the ninth and all three runners scored thanks to an error, fielder's choice and sacrifice fly by Sam Campin.

GAME THREE SUMMARY

• Coe's bats were on fire in the final game of the set as the Kohawks scored in each of the first four innings with the help of nine hits.
• Simpson chipped away at the deficit with two runs on one hit and an error in the sixth, making the score 6-2, but Coe exploded for six runs on five more hits in the home half to lead 12-2.
• The Storm loaded the bags in the seventh but left all three stranded, falling victim to the run-rule.

SERIES LEADERS

• Nate Cagley: 6 hits, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 1 walk
• Ian Baldwin: 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 stolen base
• Dalton Ferrin: 3 hits (1 double, 1 triple), 2 runs, 1 stolen base
• Will Carlock: 3 hits, 1 RBI
• Zach Fuller: 2 hits (1 double), 1 RBI, 1 run

UP NEXT
The Storm have a tight turnaround as they head to Cornell tomorrow evening for their final nonconference game of the year. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.