PELLA — Neither team's offense could get much going but the Simpson College baseball team did just enough to take two games from Central College in an American Rivers Conference doubleheader Friday.

Central (13-23 overall, 10-20 conference) lost 1-0 in the opener against Simpson (15-21, 12-18 conference) before dropping the second game 5-3.

Another stellar pitching performance for Marcus Wenzel (senior, Chicago, Ill., Luther College North Prep HS) resulted in a 1-0 loss for the second outing in a row. He pitched six scoreless innings before a runner scored in the seventh on an errant throw after he had exited the game. He only gave up three hits and struck out three with two walks.

"I can't say enough about Marcus," coach Matt Schirm said. "He's a great senior leader and he does everything the right way. I hate we couldn't get him that win but he pitched really well."

In game two, Chris Hensley (senior, right fielder, Ottumwa) went 2-for-3 and scored on an RBI triple by Tyler Sass (freshman, Lincoln, Neb., Southwest HS) in the eighth inning

"I'm proud of Chris because he's been struggling for a few games," Schirm said. "He was able to make some adjustments and come up with a couple of hard hits late in the game."

Quinn Miller (junior, third baseman, Cedar Rapids, Xavier HS) also had an RBI triple in the second inning of game two.

Kyle Wright (senior, Manchester, West Delaware HS) tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball in relief of starter Ryan Riddle (senior, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS). Wright stuck out seven with three walks and two hits.

"Kyle has been incredible the last half of the season," Schirm said. " He's given us a bunch of quality innings and kept us in games"

The two teams are schedule to complete the four-game series Sunday in Pella at 1 p.m.

"If we can pitch and play defense like we did today, we're going to have a good shot. We just have to perform a little better offensively."