Schmitt paces Storm in offensive battle

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Simpson baseball team survived a scare on Monday as the squad came back from trailing by five runs to win 11-10 over Curry College.

The Storm (3-0) jumped out to a quick 4-0 advantage in the third inning. Truman Schmitt remained hot at the plate and belted a two-run homer to make it 3-0 and Brandon Urias kept the scoring column open with an RBI single to follow the bomb.

The Colonels (2-4) chipped away at the deficit by answering with three runs in the top of the fourth. The following frame, Curry plated six runners to claim a 9-4 tilt.

After two scoreless innings for Simpson at the plate, the team erupted for seven runs in the sixth to go back on top at 11-9. Noah Sacco drilled a single to plate a pair and Josh Breitbarth doubled to score Kolton Arnold. Urias then singled and drove in a runner, and Nathan Carlin followed with a two-run triple.

The Colonels would not go away quietly and tallied a run in the eighth to bring the game within one, but the Storm pitching staff shut the door on the comeback and finished the game with a one-two-three outing in the ninth.

Brett Kauzlarich pitched the last 4.2 innings for Simpson and allowed two hits, one run and struck out three batters for his first win of the season and career.

Cameron Liston got the start on the hill and went for 4.1 innings, and gave up six hits and four earned runs.

At the dish, Schmitt went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Urias had three hits and drove in two runs. The Storm finished with 15 hits and now have 36 hits to begin the season.

Simpson takes on New Jersey City tomorrow at 8:15 a.m. (CT) before taking the day off on Wednesday.