The Simpson Storm baseball team opened up conference play this past weekend and split with Luther and Dubuque in both doubleheaders.

“We are playing hard and hitting the ball, we just need to keep our focus going into the second game,” junior Scott Brown said.

Against Luther, the Storm went into extra innings, going nine innings and getting the victory 12-11.

Seniors Brent Delger, Andy Walker and Tony Coppola combined for 10 hits, RBI’s, and six runs scored.

“You really couldn’t have asked for more out of the seniors that game,” Brown said.

Junior Scott Sibbel also went 3-6 and had three RBI’s.

On the mound Delger got the win while fellow senior Kyle Lehman got the save.

In the second game of the doubleheader Simpson fell short to the Norse 3-2.

Walker went 2-4 in the game and had one RBI. Brown took the loss for the Storm.

“We can’t let up in the second game,” sophomore Grant Fjetland said. “We need to be able to pull two wins out.”

The bats were alive once again for the Storm in the first game against Dubuque. Simpson outscored Dubuque 16-6.

Coppola went 3-4 with one RBI and Fjetland was 3-3 on the day with four runs scored. Walker had two hits, four RBI’s and three runs scored.

Sophomore Mike Donnenwerth picked up the win for the Storm and struck out five batters in five innings of work.

Once again the Storm came up just short in the second game losing 8-6.

Sibbel led the team with three hits and Coppola was right behind with two. Freshman Shawn Parker took the loss for the Storm.

“Our record for the weekend wasn’t what we had hoped for, but we showed up offensively and had some good outings from our pitchers,” said Fjetland.

Simpson travels to Waverly this Saturday to take on the Wartburg Knights in a conference doubleheader.