Offense falters as Storm fall to St. Thomas

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Kelsey Castenson's (Harcourt, Iowa/SE Webster) homer in the seventh broke up the shutout, but sixth-seeded St. Thomas took a 4-1 win over third-seeded Simpson in the regional rounds of the 2010 NCAA Division III Softball Championship hosted by Simpson College.

The Storm (31-11) managed only three hits in the game, two of which came off the bat of Castenson. One of the top fielding teams in the nation, Simpson uncharacteristically committed three errors in the loss.

Meanwhile the Tommies (38-6) rode the arm of Marta Radcliffe to the tournament-opening win. Radcliffe (24-3) struck out eight in the complete-game three-hitter.

Simpson now faces elimination and seventh-seeded Fontbonne at 2 p.m. on Friday. Fontbonne lost a 3-2 decision to second-seeded Illinois Wesleyan in the day's final game.

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, Simpson gave up the first runs of the game in the fourth. Radcliffe grounded into a fielder's choice that led to two runs scored by the Tommies as miscommunication by the Storm yielded extra bases.

Becky Eishens scored another run for St. Thomas with a homer in the fourth, making the score 3-0 before Kimmy Hassel drove in a run with a bunt that turned into a fielder's choice as Simpson couldn't make the out at home.

Senior pitcher Whitney Oviatt (Carnation, Wash./Cedarcrest) went the distance for Simpson, allowing four runs - two earned. Oviatt (22-6) allowed only five hits and struck out three in the game.

St. Thomas moves on to play second-seeded Illinois Wesleyan at 6 p.m. Friday.