Errors costly as baseball falls to Central

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson baseball team allowed nine unearned runs and committed nine errors on Tuesday, losing both games of a doubleheader to Central, 9-1 and 4-3.

The Storm (13-11, 6-8 Iowa Conference) committed five costly errors in the opener and four in the nightcap to lose the season series to Central, 4-0. The Dutch (13-10, 5-7) took both games of a doubleheader a week ago in Pella.

Simpson trailed 2-0 in game two before a run-scoring single by Jake Esdohr in the fourth made it 2-1. The Storm took a 3-2 lead in the sixth thanks to RBI singles from Nick Anderson and Brett Crable.

The lead held until failed pickoff attempts in the eighth and ninth resulted in unearned runs for Central.

In the eighth inning, Spencer Gritsch scored the tying run from second when catcher Bud Smith's snap throw to first went wide. In the ninth, Andy Carr moved from first to third on a bad pickoff attempt by reliever Brock Borgeson, allowing Jordan Judkins to drive in the winning run on a sacrifice fly.

Kyle Helmerson had to settle for the no-decision after a quality start. The right-hander went six innings, allowing just four hits and two runs. Borgeson (0-2) went the final two innings, taking the loss.

Jake Scieszinski went 2-for-4 and Tyler Craig scored twice.

Mack Boothe (1-0) earned the win in relief for Central, striking out six in five innings. Zach Brown went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

The opener was all Central after a quick start by Simpson.

Michael Chia singled, stole second and scored on a double by Craig in the first as the Storm offense got to starter Robbie Rushing early.

But after allowing three hits in the first, Rushing (3-0) gave up just two the rest of the way, striking out five in the complete-game win. He improved to 2-0 against Simpson this season, going the distance in Central's 8-4 win in the first game of last Tuesday's doubleheader.

Central got on the board with four runs in the second, adding two in the fifth and three in the seventh. Of Central's nine runs, just two were earned as Simpson committed five errors.

Scieszinski (3-1) was the hard-luck loser, allowing four hits and six unearned runs in five innings. Barr and Craig had two hits apiece.

Simpson hosts Buena Vista in the final home series of the season Friday and Saturday, April 11-12. The Beavers (19-5, 8-4) split their doubleheader with Coe on Tuesday. Friday's first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. and Saturday's action will get underway at 1 p.m.