Storm bounce back to take game two on Opening Day

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson College baseball team split its season-opening doubleheader against Wis.-Eau Claire on Friday, falling 6-5 in game one before responding with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap.

Trenten Kingrey homered in the opener and Preston Glatt gave the Storm (1-1) a 5-4 lead in the eighth, but Wis.-Eau Claire (1-1) tied the game in the ninth and scored the go-ahead run to take the first contest.

In game two, Simpson scored twice in the third and added three more across the sixth and seventh to pull away. Matthew Florence hit a solo home run, Jacob Roberts added an RBI double and Kingrey drove in two as the Storm secured the 5-1 victory.

Charlie Thomas achieved the win on the mound in game two, throwing six strikeouts in five innings. Simpson's game one starter, Charley Mershon, also threw six strikeouts as the Storm tallied 21 on the day.

GAME ONE SUMMARY

• After Wis.-Eau Claire struck first on a sacrifice fly in the opening inning, Simpson answered immediately. An RBI groundout by Drew Carlson evened the score at 1-1 before Trenten Kingrey launched a solo home run to right center in the second to give the Storm a 2-1 edge.
• The Blugolds regained the lead in the third on a two-run homer and added a second sacrifice fly in the fifth for a 4-2 advantage.
• An RBI single from Tijmen Nagel in the fifth trimmed the deficit to 4-3, and Dalton Ferrin tied the game in the seventh with an RBI double to right center.
• Simpson appeared poised to take the opener after pinch hitter Preston Glatt delivered an RBI single in the eighth, putting the Storm ahead 5-4.
• The Blugolds answered in the ninth, however, using a balk to tie the game before pushing across the go-ahead run on a hit-by-pitch to secure the 6-5 decision.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Dalton Ferrin: 3 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Drew Carlson: 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 1 run
• Trenten Kingrey: 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Preston Glatt: 1 hit, 1 RBI
• Tijmen Nagel: 1 hit, 1 RBI
• Charley Mershon: 6.0 IP, 6 strikeouts

GAME TWO SUMMARY

• The Storm broke through in the third inning. Sam Campin led off the inning with a double before Nate Cagley drove in the first run with an RBI single. Trenten Kingrey followed with a fielder's choice that plated another to make it 2-0.
• After the Blugolds capitalized on an error to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the sixth, Simpson responded emphatically in the bottom half of the inning. Matthew Florence delivered a solo home run to extend the lead, and Jacob Roberts added an RBI double to push the advantage to 4-1.
• Kingrey capped the scoring in the seventh with an RBI single to right, sealing the 5-1 victory and securing the split.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Dalton Ferrin: 2 hits
• Trenten Kingrey: 1 hit, 2 RBI
• Matthew Florence: 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Nate Cagley: 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 walk
• Jacob Roberts: 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Charlie Thomas: 5.0 IP, 6 strikeouts

UP NEXT
The two teams close out the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.