May 10, 2003

WATERLOO, IOWA . . . Wartburg College won its seventh consecutive Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) baseball title with an 11-6 victory over Simpson College in the Tournament’s final game. The Knights defeated Cornell 3-0 and Simpson defeated Buena Vista 8-6 in 11 innings earlier in the day.

In the final game, Wartburg fell behind 2-0 before coming to bat in the bottom of the second inning and scored seven runs in that inning to take a 7-2 lead it would not relinquish. Short stop Jay Whannel and center fielder Kevin Huston both had bases loaded walks and another run scored when left fielder Ryan Mix was hit by a pitch. Following a double play, Mix scored on an error by Simpson’s Brian Cyronek on a ground ball to short stop by third baseman Joel Reynolds and Reynolds scored on designated hitter Greg Torgerson’s single to left. Right fielder Caleb Klein, who reached on a walk, scored the final run of the inning on catcher Brian Greiner’s single to center.

Simpson pulled back within one run with a four run third inning. Cyronek doubled to left and scored on third baseman Scott Sibbel’s single up the middle. Designated hitter Jon Clanton, who singled, and Sibbel scored on center fielder Steve Lamberti’s double. Lamberti scored on catcher Brett Murphy’s single.

It remained a one run game until the bottom of the sixth when Wartburg put the game out of reach with four more runs. With two outs second baseman Casey Toops homered to right center. Klein and Torgerson singled. Pinch runner Adam Heineman scored on Greiner’s double and Torgerson and Greiner scored on first baseman Brian Pins single to left.

Grant Finley picked up the win in relief of starter Andy Arthur. Finley (2-0) pitched four innings of three-hit, one-run relief. Arthur pitched two innings surrendering five runs on six hits. Ash Larson pitched the seventh for Wartburg. Simpson starter David Isaacson suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on three hits in 1+ innings. He fell to 3-4 on the season. Josh August pitched 4.2 innings of relief, surrendering five runs on seven hits and Ben Ramsey pitched a third of inning giving up one run on two hits.

Wartburg improved to 32-10-1 overall and 14-6 in the Iowa Conference. The Knights will find out about their NCAA post season opponent on Sunday evening. Simpson concluded its season 24-19, 12-9.

Game #8 - #3 Simpson 8 vs. #6 Buena Vista 7 (11 innings) (Buena Vista eliminated)
Simpson scored two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning for the victory and advance. The Storm (24-18 overall, 12-8 IIAC) held a 4-2 lead going into the top of the seventh inning but Buena Vista (15-24, 9-10) scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead 6-4. The Beavers could not hold that lead giving up two runs to Simpson in the bottom of the seventh.

In the top of the 11th, left fielder Ben Lickteig led off with a double to left field. He advanced to third on first baseman Tom Murphy’s ground out and scored on third baseman Matt Reichle’s groundout to short stop. Buena Vista again squandered the lead. Third baseman Scott Sibbel reached first on a dropped third strike to lead off the Simpson half of the 11th. With one out, designated hitter Mike Donnenwerth and center fielder Steve Lamberti both singled with Lamberti’s hit driving in SIbbel with the tying run. Right fielder Grant Fjetland reached on a bunt single to load the bases. First baseman Brett Murphy singled to center field scoring Donnenwerth with the winning run.

Wade Samo pitched four innings of two-hit relief to notch his second victory of the season. Mike Soenen pitched 4.2 innings and suffered the loss.

Game #9 - #2 Wartburg 3 vs. Cornell 0 (Cornell eliminated)
Wartburg scored three runs on six walks and just one hit in the sixth inning to eliminate the Tournament’s top seed Cornell. Center fielder Kevin Huston led off with a walk but was thrown out trying to steal. Left fielder Ryan Mix and second baseman Casey Toops prompting Cornell’s pitching change to Rosenberg. Third baseman Joel Reynolds walked to load the bases and after a Caleb Klein strikeout, catcher Brian Greiner walked scoring Mix with the games first run. First baseman Greg Torgerson singles to left center field driving in Reynolds and Toops.

Patrick Smith improved to 9-2 on the season with a complete game six strikeout performance. Matt Loptien (5-5) suffered the loss after walking four batters in 5.1 innings. Ryan Rosenberg gave up three walks and two hits in 1.2 innings of relief.

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