Jerrold Martijn lays down a bunt during the Knights' win over the Simpson Storm Friday night at Hertel Field. Photo by Luke Shanno
MAC SLAVIN SPORTS EDITOR
After topping the Simpson Storm 9-6 Friday night, the Knights dropped a pair of conference home games to the Storm Sunday 8-1 and 12-1.
“There were some high spots and there were definitely some low spots [this weekend]. We’re on a rollercoaster, going up and down and we’ve just got to find that up part and just keep going up from there,” assistant coach Craig Denner said.
The weather forced Saturday’s games to be pushed back to Sunday afternoon.
The Storm started the scoring right off the bat, with a one-run first inning, a three-run second and a one-run fourth to make the score 5-0.
The Knights brought in their first run of the day in the sixth-inning. Danny Rose singled to center field and advanced on a Jerrold Martijn single to right field. A throwing error on the play allowed Rose to advance to third.
During the next at bat, Mike Johnson grounded into a double play, but Rose managed to score to put the Knights on the board 5-1.
A three-run seventh inning gave the Storm the lead, making the final score 8-1.
The Knights were led by Martijn, Grau and Zach Nagle as the trio each had two hits.
“We knew that Sunday was going to be a big day for us to get back into the race ... we just didn’t produce,” Denner said.
The Storm topped the Knights in the second game of the day 12-1.
“We just didn’t execute the way we wanted to, but you’ve got to give Simpson credit, because Simpson executed all day long,” Denner said.
Simpson scored one run in the first inning. The Knights answered in the third with one run, as A.J. Lewis singled to left field. Isiah Stevens singled advancing Lewis to second. Ben Roemmich hit a sacrifice fly allowing Lewis to score, tying the score at 1-1.
The Storm took the lead in the fourth inning scoring on a hit into right field. Simpson put together a nine-run sixth inning, capitalizing on eight hits and three errors to put the game away. The final score, 12-1, was reached after the Storm produced a one-run seventh inning.
Friday night, the Knights topped the Storm 9-6.
The Knights started the game scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Roemmich singled to center field in the first at bat for the Knights. Rose singled to the Simpson shortstop advancing Roemmich to second. Martijn laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Roemmich and Rose. A Johnson ground out scored Roemmich, and a Jones single scored Rose, putting the Knights up 2-0.
Lewis scored for the Knights in the second. After hitting a single down the left field line and stealing second, a Roemmich single drove Lewis around the bases and in for the run.
Simpson minimized the Knights’ lead in the top of the fifth inning scoring one run off of a sacrifice fly.
The Knights answered in the bottom of the sixth after Johnson singled to left field. He stole second, and on a Jones’ double rounded third towards home. The Knights ended the sixth on top 4-1.
Simpson started a three-run seventh inning with a double to left field. Three errors later, the Storm and the Knights were tied at four. The Knights managed to get out of the inning with three Simpson runners left on base.
A Lewis single to left field started the Knights scoring in the bottom of the seventh. In the next at bat, Nagle bunted down the third base line and advanced Lewis to second. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and in the next at bat Roemmich singled to right field and drove Lewis in to give the Knights the 5-4 lead. A fielding error in the next at bat allowed Rose to get on base, Roemmich to advance and Nagle to score. A Martijn sacrifice bunt advanced Roemmich and Rose.
After a pitching change, Johnson singled to right field and scored both Roemmich and Rose. The Knights finished the inning with four runs, putting the score at 8-4.
“Our seventh inning was the best inning we had all weekend,” Denner said.
The Storm looked to come back in the eighth inning, but only managed to muster a one-run inning. Grau scored in the eighth inning after Lewis singled to right center field. Simpson managed to put together another one-run inning putting the final at 9-6.
Martijn was the winning pitcher for the Knights, and Nate Rost got the save. Martijn finished seven innings on the mound, allowing five hits and struck out five.
The Knights were led by Johnson’s three RBIs. Jones and Roemmich each brought in two RBIs in the win.
“We’ve got to change something up in order to get on that winning track. We’ve got to get hot real fast … we are going to change the way we attack things,” Denner said.
The Knights will resume conference play Friday as they host Luther at Hertel Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.