Big innings hurt Simpson against Central

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson baseball team out-played Central for 13 of 16 innings on Friday, but those three innings proved to be the difference as Central swept the doubleheader, 6-5 and 9-5.

The Storm (8-15, 4-10 Iowa Conference) led 5-2 before surrendering four runs in Central's last at-bat in game one and held a 5-0 lead in game two until the Dutch (15-8, 7-5) tallied six in the sixth.

Game 1: Central 6, Simpson 5
Ethan Hale doubled, Blake Heitmeier and Brett Crable each had a run-scoring single and Simpson took advantage of two Central errors to score four runs in the second.

Crable drove in his second run of the game on a groundout in the fourth and Simpson led 5-2 heading into the seventh.

Adam Ariola came through for Central, getting a two-RBI double to tie it before Robbie Rushing scored what would be the winning run.

Jake Scieszinski allowed just two hits and two runs in six innings for the no decision while Brock Borgeson (2-1) couldn't close it out in the seventh.

Game 2: Central 9, Simpson 5
Central got six consecutive base hits to start the sixth, scoring six runs to erase a 5-0 deficit en-route to the 9-5, game two win.

Rushing, Zach Zylstra, Seth Carson, Jace Ahrendsen and Jake Effron all drove in runs during the frame for Central.

Tyler Craig went 3-for-4 and Tyler Crandell drove in two runs with a triple for Simpson, which built a 5-0 lead after five.

Central led 6-5 until the eighth when Sam Stetzel hit a two-RBI single in building a 9-5 advantage.

Matt Pennings (2-3) gave up six runs – five earned – in the loss for Simpson. Judson McKown (3-2) endured a rough start to get the win.

Up Next
After playing six games in the last three days, Simpson will get a much-needed day of rest before hosting Grinnell in non-conference action on Wednesday.