Chia's game-winner helps Simpson split with Luther

DECORAH, Iowa – Michael Chia drove in the game-winning run in the seventh inning in game one and the Simpson baseball team came away with a doubleheader split against Luther on Saturday, winning game one 3-2 and losing the nightcap 10-2.

The two teams also split Friday's doubleheader, leaving the Storm (15-17, 8-14 Iowa Conference) fifth in the conference standings with six games remaining. Simpson goes to Dubuque next weekend and closes the schedule with a makeup doubleheader at Coe on Friday, May 2.

Chia broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh when he roped a single to right, scoring Josh Pirtle. Pirtle reached on a bunt single to start the inning.

The cushion was just enough for Gage Reis, who allowed a pair of one-out hits in the home half before retiring the eight and nine batters to finish off the complete game. Reis (3-3) allowed just five hits and two unearned runs, striking out four.

Simpson got RBI singles from Jake Barr and Jake Scieszinski in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead, but Luther scored a run in the first and second to tie it 2-2.

Game two started well for Simpson, which scored a run on an error to take a 1-0 lead.

Things went South in the second, when the first six batters for the Norse (12-18, 6-14) reached on the starter, Scieszinski. Luther plated four in the inning and added a run in the fifth for a 5-1 lead.

Simpson added another unearned run in the sixth to pull within 5-2, but a five-run eighth sealed the deal.

Matt McKinney (1-4) went eight innings and struck out five for his first win of the season. Scieszinski (3-3) went 5 1/3 and gave up five runs, four earned. Barr went 2-for-4 to lead the Storm.

Simpson goes to AIB for a non-conference doubleheader on Monday, April 21. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Des Moines Lincoln High School.