Parker Schnieders' first career home run with the Westminster College Blue Jays was definitely memorable.
Westminster's freshman second baseman pounded a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning to help launch the Blue Jays to an 11-4 victory over Simpson (Iowa) College in the nightcap and a split of Sunday's doubleheader at Saucier Field.
Westminster was limited to four hits and committed four errors in dropping the first game to the Storm 15-2.
The Blue Jays - who swept Saturday's doubleheader with Simpson - won the weekend series to square their season record at 6-6. The Storm dropped to 2-4.
Westminster trailed 1-0 in Sunday's second game when Schnieders' slam sparked the Blue Jays' six-run outburst in the first. Simpson added a run in the second, but Westminster answered with two runs in its half of the inning to take an 8-2 lead.
The Storm tacked on another run in the third, but the Blue Jays countered again by tallying three runs in their half of the inning to make it 11-3. Simpson put up its final run in the sixth.
Senior right fielder Ryan Clavin was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the third and two runs scored as Westminster collected 11 hits. Senior first baseman Trevor Rhoads finished 1-for-3 with three RBI and scored a run.
Senior left fielder Will Stonecipher went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Blue Jays, while sophomore shortstop Michael Skinner was 2-for-3 and scored a run. Sophomore third baseman Hayden Hirschvogel finished 1-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, and junior catcher Derek Shikles - a New Bloomfield graduate - went 1-for-3 with a double and scored a run.
Westminster sophomore starter Jayme Bertish allowed three runs - two earned - on six hits in five innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. Bertish struck out one and walked one. The Blue Jays overcame three errors.
In Sunday's opener, Clavin was 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth to account for both of Westminster's runs. Skinner finished 1-for-2 and scored a run.
Freshman starter Josh Weaver surrendered six runs - five earned - on 10 hits over five innings in suffering the loss for the Blue Jays. Weaver (0-2) struck out four and issued two walks.
After prevailing 15-7 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, sophomore starter Mason Kirkweg struck out eight over six innings as Westminster completed a sweep of Simpson with a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
Kirkweg (2-1) gave up two earned runs on seven hits and two walks.
Skinner went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored as the Blue Jays made the most of just five hits. Schnieders was 1-for-2 with a double and scored two runs, while Rhoads finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Westminster plays a doubleheader against Robert Morris-Peoria (Ill.) at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Jacksonville, Ill.