WAVERLY, Iowa – Knights baseball got back in the win column today with a 9-2 victory over Simpson College at home on Saturday, Apr. 23. The Orange and Black are now 20-13 overall and move to 10-6 in American Rivers Conference play.
Game Summary
The first three innings of the game were controlled by each team's starting pitcher with
Dylan Gotto for Wartburg and Colton Major for Simpson. Gotto started the first three innings with no hits allowed and three strikeouts. Major held the Knights offense hitless until the bottom of the third when
Zach Walton delivered a two-run homer to left field to make the score 2-0 after three.
The Storm got their first hit of the contest in the top of the fifth but could not capitalize with a runner on base. In the bottom half of the fifth,
Keaton Gray singled up the middle to start the inning. Runners were on the corners after a
Max Goodhue walk and Walton again went yard with a deep shot to center field. This marks Walton's second multi-homerun game this season and pushed the lead to 5-0.
After a 1-2-3 inning for the Knights defense, the offense struck again and this time it was
Ben DeKruyf who went yard for his fourth homer of the season. The seventh inning was scoreless and then the Storm got on the board in the eighth inning to make the score 6-2.
The Orange & Black started their eventual last at bat with a walk, which led to a run when
Bryce Butler singled through the right-side gap.
Carter Stubitz singles to put two runners in scoring position before Gray hit one run in with a fielder's choice. Gray was brought home by
Caleb Andrews' second double of the contest.
Aaron Eybers pitched the last inning in relief of Gotto and struck out one while closing the 9-2 victory over Simpson.
Game Leaders
Walton led the offense with five RBI in his 2/3 performance at the plate. The sophomore first basemen now has 10 home runs and 48 RBI for the Knights this season. Walton drew one walk today for his team-leading 28
th walk of the year.
Both Gray and Andrews had multi-hit games with an RBI for the Orange & Black in today's contest. Andrews' two doubles were the teams only extra-base hits today excluding the home runs.
Gotto earned his sixth win on the mound today and went eight full innings in the victory. The senior ace finished with eight strikeouts and only four hits allowed in his ninth start this season. He now has 72 strikeouts through 63 innings pitched for the Orange & Black.
Next Time Out
The Knights are back in action, tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 24 with a doubleheader against Simpson to close the regular season series. First pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m.
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