Comeback efforts not enough against Wartburg
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Simpson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
|
Wartburg | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 8 | 10 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Simpson | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
|
Wartburg | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 7 | 0 |
INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson baseball team came back from early deficits in both games of Friday's doubleheader against Wartburg but couldn't complete the comeback in either, losing 8-6 and 6-5 in the conference opener for both teams.
Originally scheduled to be played in Waverly, the four-game Iowa Conference series was moved to Indianola due to unplayable field conditions to the East. As per Iowa Conference rule, Wartburg remained the home team because of the venue change.
Game 1: Wartburg 8, Simpson 6
Trailing 8-3 with two outs in the seventh, Tyler Craig hit a three-run homer to bring Simpson within two runs. But Scott Benson put the finishing touches on the complete-game effort by striking out Jake Scieszinski in the next at-bat.
Benson (2-0) picked up the win despite allowing 10 hits and six earned runs for the Knights (12-2).
Craig finished 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs for the Storm (4-7), who trailed 6-1 after the second inning.
Wartburg scored three runs in each of the first two innings, getting some help from a dropped fly ball which allowed three unearned to score in the first.
Sciesinski (0-2) – one of four pitcher to take the mound for Simpson – suffered the loss, allowing three earned in two innings.
Game 2: Wartburg 6, Simpson 5
The Knights scored six runs in the second inning, Ben Rettenmeier struck out a career-high 10 batters and Wartburg held off Simpson's comeback attempt for the second game in a row.
Andrew Krehbiel drove in two runs in the six-run second for Wartburg, which was helped by three walks in the frame.
Simpson came back with five straight hits in the third, including doubles by Jake Esdorh, Pedro Rosa and Jake Barr which helped Simpson put up four to pull within 6-4.
Trailing by a run, Brett Crable led off the ninth with a single but Rettenmeier (4-0) retired the next three for the complete-game win.
Craig, Crable and Tyler Crandell all finished with two hits for the Storm and Aaron Young (0-3) went 4 1/3 innings in the loss.
