Esdohr, Craig homer in split with Coe

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Jake Esdohr hit the first home run of his career, Gage Reis kept the Coe offense in check and the Simpson baseball team held on for a 6-4 win in game one of a doubleheader split on Friday night.

Coe won the nightcap 13-1 by run rule in seven innings, evening the first two games of the four-game series.

Esdohr hit a two-run home run off Coe starter Connor Alberhasky (4-2) in the second inning, giving the Storm (11-18, 7-13 Iowa Conference) a 2-0 lead and kick-starting the offense.

Blake Heitmeier drove in two runs on a single in the third and Tyler Craig doubled in another as part of a two-run fifth that gave Simpson a 6-1 lead after five.

For the second start in a row, Reis (3-2) threw six strong innings. He struck out four and allowed four runs off five hits. He permitted just two base runners in the first three innings but ran into some trouble in the sixth, surrending three runs off a hit and two walks.

Matt Pennings threw a 1-2-3 seventh for his third save of the season, closing the game in style by getting Craig Konrardy swinging for the final out.

The Kohawks (21-10, 15-5) cruised in the nightcap, pounding out 16 hits and taking advantage of three Simpson errors. Jacob Redman went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and Ben Strellner (4-3) threw a complete-game four-hitter.

Craig was the sole run producer for Simpson, hitting a solo homer in the fourth. Jose Rodriguez (1-5) gave up six runs in the loss.

The four-game series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. from McBride Field. The late start permits Simpson's seniors to take part in the commencement ceremonies being held earlier in the day.