Simpson splits with Carleton, wins 1,000th game

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Simpson baseball team split a doubleheader with Carleton Friday, winning game one 11-10 and losing game two 7-2. With the win in game one, Simpson notched the program's 1,000th victory.

The Storm (6-5) closed their annual trip to Arizona with a 5-4 record. Simpson is scheduled to open the home slate Wednesday, March 24 with a doubleheader against Nebraska Wesleyan. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Since the program's inception in 1895, Simpson is 1,000-969-9.

Dave Johnson let loose for his fourth home run of the trip in game one, a three-run shot as part of a five-run second inning.

Simpson tacked on three more in the third, thanks to an RBI single from Colton Calvert, a run scoring triple from Justin Svehla and a sac fly off the bat of Tyler Pawletzki. Simpson held a 9-5 lead after three innings.

Carleton came within a run after scoring three in the fourth, but Simpson answered with two in the sixth. With one out, Corey Rasmussen and Johnson hit back-to-back triples and Scott Ethell singled to score Johnson.

Chris Dorff came on in the ninth to earn the save (2) after Carleton plated a pair of runs to get within 11-10 in the bottom of the seventh.

Clint Rhodes earned the win (1-1), striking out five while allowing 14 hits and 10 runs - nine earned - in 6 1/3 innings.

Rasmussen ended 4-for-4 with a triple, a double and an RBI.

In game two, Simpson got out to an early 1-0 lead but Carleton plated four in the fifth and two in the sixth on the way to a 7-2 win.

Brad Agan and Pawletzki drove in runs for Simpson, while Kyle Ruhle (1-1) took the loss on the hill.