Simpson eliminated from IIAC Tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Augie Lindmark had a quality start, Kevin Bradley drove in three and Luther beat the Simpson baseball team 8-2 in the first elimination game of the 2012 Iowa Conference Baseball Tournament at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday.

Grant Thomas had two hits for the sixth-seeded Storm (18-24), who saw their season come to a close.

Bradley, Ryan Bahnemann and Andrew Nelson all had three hits for the fourth-seeded Norse (23-19), who advance to play top-seeded Central at 4 p.m.

Lindmark (9-1) held Simpson to one earned run in eight innings, striking out five.

A stiff breeze blowing out to left field caused problems for infielders and outfielders alike, and played a big part in Luther's four-run third inning.

Bradley took full advantage of the wind when he lifted a three-run homer that just cleared the wall in left field. Austen Graham added an RBI single as the Norse took a 4-0 lead.

Simpson answered in the fourth when Jake Barr drove in Thomas on a single. Tyler Crandell reached on an error and scored on another error in the fifth, pulling the Storm within 5-2.

The Storm threatened in the eighth after a Blake Heitmeier walk and a Thomas single. But a fielder's choice and a groundout ended the threat and Luther tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth.

Kyle Ruehle (4-3) lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out three. Chris Dorff threw 1 2/3 innings of relief, picking up two strikeouts. He increased his career total to 196, tying Barry Steim (1988-92) for the most strikeouts in school history.