Bats quiet in loss to Central

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson baseball team managed only four hits in a 7-3 loss to league-leading Central on Wednesday evening at McBride Field.

Facing the league's top pitching staff, Simpson put only four runners in scoring position all night.

Tyler Crandell went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored for the Storm (12-14, 6-6 Iowa Conference), who lost for the sixth time in eight tries.

Blake Heitmeier went 1-for-2 with a double and Grant Thomas added a double.

Mike Furlong went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs for the Dutch (20-5, 10-2), who have won 13 of their last 15.

Leading 2-1 after three innings, Central added to its advantage with three runs in the fourth. After a single and a double put runners on second and third to start the inning, Allen Mann plated a two-RBI single and came around to score on a double by Furlong.

Simpson cut into the lead in the sixth. Heitmeier doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a single to right by Jake Barr, making the score 5-2.

But a sacrifice fly by Adam Ariola and an RBI groundout by Sam Stetzel in the seventh all but sealed it for the Dutch.

Ryan Dusil got the win on the mound, improving to 4-0 on the year. He went six innings and gave up two runs – one earned – off two hits.

Chris Dorff absorbed the loss, moving to 3-5. He struck out seven in six innings, but was responsible for five runs – all earned – off eight hits.

Simpson gets a break from conference action tomorrow night when it welcomes Grinnell to McBride Field for a single, nine-inning contest. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.