Baseball defeats Knights in A-R-C opener

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College baseball team opened American Rivers Conference play with a strong showing Friday night, defeating Wartburg 7-4 at McBride Field.

Trey Castile fired five shutout innings and the Storm (6-8, 1-0 A-R-C) outhit the Knights (6-6, 0-1 A-R-C) 12-6. Four players recorded multiple hits as the offense found its rhythm early, plating four runs in the third before adding insurance in the sixth and eighth.

SCORING SUMMARY

• Sam Campin drew a one-out walk in the third, stole second, and came around to score on a base hit to right center by Ian Baldwin.
• Bryson Gibson followed with an RBI groundout, and Nate Cagley capped the frame with a two-run double, making it 4-0.
• Wartburg cut the deficit in half in the sixth with a two-run double from Griffin Troha, but Simpson immediately responded in the bottom half. Matthew Florence doubled home Trenten Kingrey before Campin delivered his second RBI of the night with a single to right center, restoring a four-run lead.
• The Knights scratched across an unearned run in the seventh to make it 6-3, but Simpson answered once more. Drew Carlson laced a two-out double, bringing Tyson McAlexander home from third to push the lead back to four.
• Wartburg managed one run in the ninth, but Simpson's defense held strong behind Charley Mershon, who picked up his first collegiate save.

STORM STANDOUTS

• Ian Baldwin: 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Bryson Gibson: 2 hits, 1 RBI
• Nate Cagley: 1 2B, 2 RBI
• Trenten Kingrey: 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 run
• Sam Campin: 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 1 run
• Trey Castile: 5.1 IP, 8 strikeouts

UP NEXT
The two teams return to McBride Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.