Simpson secures key conference series at Central

PELLA, Iowa – The Simpson College baseball team pulled away late in game two to capture a 6-2 win and clinch an American Rivers Conference series victory over Central on Saturday afternoon.

Leading 3-2 entering the ninth, the Storm (15-20, 9-12 A-R-C) tacked on three insurance runs thanks to RBI doubles by Will Carlock and Kasey Carter, along with a costly error by the Dutch (16-19, 7-14 A-R-C). The late surge sealed the series finale for Simpson, after Central claimed the opening game of the doubleheader, 9-3, despite a late rally from the visitors.

Nate Cagley led the Storm offensively across both games, finishing the day 5-for-8 at the plate with four RBIs, two walks, and a run scored. On the mound, Eli Feekin earned the win in game two, while Dante Dolash closed it out with a three-inning save.

Simpson's two wins over Central put the Storm in a tie for sixth place with Dubuque heading into the final week of the regular season. The Storm and Spartans will battle for a spot in the conference tournament on Friday and Saturday at McBride Field.

GAME ONE SUMMARY

• Simpson jumped out to an early lead in the opener, plating two runs in the first inning with an RBI single from Will Carlock and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Ian Baldwin.
• Central responded with four runs on four hits in the third and tacked on three more in the fifth to build a 7-2 cushion.
• The Dutch scored once in the sixth and seventh around a solo home run from Trenten Kingrey, his sixth of the year and fourth this week.
• Nate Cagley sparked a late rally with a bases-clearing double in the eighth to pull Simpson within three, but the Storm couldn't complete the comeback.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Nate Cagley: 2 hits, 1 double, 3 RBI, 1 walk, 1 run
• Trenten Kingrey: 2 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 3 runs
• Will Carlock: 1 hit, 1 RBI
• Trey Castile: 5.0 IP, 8 strikeouts

GAME TWO SUMMARY

• Nate Cagley picked up where he left off in game one, hitting another double to score Trenten Kingrey in the first.
• Central tied the game at 1-1 thanks to a sacrifice fly.
• Jacob Roberts restored Simpson's one-run lead with a double, but the Dutch leveled the game once more in the fourth.
• An RBI base hit from Roberts put Simpson ahead for good in the sixth. The Storm added three insurance marks in the ninth.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Jacob Roberts: 3 hits, 3 RBI
• Nate Cagley: 3 hits, 1 RBI, 1 walk
• Will Carlock: 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run
• Kasey Carter: 2 hits, 1 RBI
• Eli Feekin: 6.0 IP, 7 strikeouts, win
• Dante Dolash: 3.0 IP, 4 strikeouts, save

UP NEXT
Simpson returns to action next weekend against Dubuque. The first two games of the series will be played on Friday, while the series finale will take place on Saturday afternoon.