REDDING, Calif. - The Simpson baseball team began conference play today as they took on Westcliff University for a twin-bill to kick off a four-game series. 

The Red Hawks and Warriors went head-to-head in a pitcher's duel as Simpson starter Gage Hoyle had it working with the help of some solid defensive play behind him. 

Hoyle stranded a leadoff double as right fielder Andreyes Palacios completed the 9-2 double play as he fired a perfect strike to catcher Jaxon Hotta to cut down the game's first run in the top of the third inning. 

The Red Hawks carried the momentum into the bottom half of the inning as they plated two runs off three hits. 

A one-out double by Dylan Leek came around to score on an RBI triple by Mario Catalan to give Simpson the 1-0 lead followed by a huge two-out RBI infield single by Hotta. 

Palacios struck again in the fourth inning as he started a 9-3 double play as he snagged a low line drive off the grass and fired onto first base to end the Warrior's first and third threat. 

Hoyle picked up a quality start as he fired 6.0 innings of one-run baseball while allowing one unearned run before handing the ball to Geremy McCollough. 

The Warriors plated one run in the sixth inning before Simpson answered back in the bottom half of the inning on a solo shot by Cayden Lee. 

McCollough picked up where Hoyle left off as he pitched two scoreless innings before the Red Hawks brought in hard-throwing right-hander Logan Boenker in the ninth. 

The Warriors chipped away and pulled within one on a solo blast to make it a one-run game. 

But Boenker settled down as he nailed down the 3-2 victory as second baseman Manolo Tafolla made a diving play to end the game. 

Hoyle picked up his fourth win of the year while Boenker notched his second save of the season. Leek led the Simpson bats with three hits to go along with one double and one run scored. 

Game 2:

The Red Hawks looked to sweep the day behind starter Qorey Houston. 

Simpson drew first blood in the third inning as they plated three runs as Mario Catalan came through with an RBI single to get Simpson on the board first. 

The Red Hawks added two runs in the fifth inning as Alex Tolbert launched a towering blast to left field to extend Simpson's lead to five. 

A three-run blast in the top of the sixth inning got the Warriors on the board and chased Houston from the game as he handed the ball to Brendan Moore. 

Houston had a solid outing as he fired five innings and gave up just two earned runs while striking out three batters. 

However, the Red Hawks exploded in the bottom half of the inning as they plated eight runs off six hits and one Westcliff error. 

Lee, Tolbert, Dominic Folks, and Brayden Swenson each picked up RBI singles to move the game into mercy-rule territory. 

But the Warriors plated two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run blast to move the game back out of mercy-rule territory. 

Simpson closed the door in the seventh as Aden Munoz hit the game-ending mercy rule walk-off single to give Simpson the 15-5 victory.

Catalan led the Simpson bats in game two with three hits while Lee and Tolbert each picked up a two-hit performance while combining for five RBIs. 

Simpson looks to take the series tomorrow as the first pitch is set for noon. 
 

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