Timely hitting, heads up defense lead to sweep of Coe

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Despite being held to only three hits in the game, Simpson made big plays at crucial moments in claiming a 2-1 victory on the way to a sweep of Coe Tuesday at Simpson Softball Complex. Simpson won game two, 4-0.

Whitney Oviatt (Carnation, Wash./Cedarcrest) picked up both wins in the circle, Kelsie Host (Altoona, Iowa/Southeast Polk) went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBIs and the Storm (19-6, 8-0 IIAC) extended their winning streak to 13 with the doubleheader sweep of the preseason pick to win the Iowa Conference.

The defending NCAA national runner-up Kohawks and starting pitcher Ashlee Simon looked every bit as good as advertised in game one. Simon held Simpson hitless through the first five innings, the only blemish coming courtesy of two Coe errors which resulted in an unearned run in the fifth.

After Kortney Proctor (Wilton, Iowa/Wilton) led off the inning with a walk, Kelsey Castenson (Harcourt, Iowa/Southeast Webster) reached first on a throwing error following her sacrifice bunt attempt. Two batters later, with one out and runners at the corners, No. 9 hitter Amanda Enochs (Des Moines, Iowa/East) slapped a grounder to short. Coe shortstop Sidney Ridout fielded the ball cleanly but sailed her throw to the plate, allowing pinch-runner Leslie Downing (Swan, Iowa/Pleastantville) to score the first run of the game.

Coe tied the game with an RBI single in the top of the sixth, but Simpson tallied the game winner in the home half. With two outs in the inning, Host laid down a bunt single and moved to second on a single by Proctor. A failed attempt to pick off Host at second put runners at the corners before Castensen drove in the game-winner with a double to left field.

Despite allowing only three hits and striking out 12, Simon took the loss in game one. Oviatt earned the win, holding the Kohawks (16-11, 4-4) to one run off six hits in seven innings.

Oviatt's biggest contribution in the opener may have been her heads up defense, however. In the top of the fifth, Coe used a leadoff double by Katie Kramer and a sacrifice bunt to put a runner at third with only one out in a scoreless game. When Abbie Wedemeier hit a come-backer to Oviatt two batters later, pinch-runner Jackie Finley tried to score from third, only to get cut down at the plate by Oviatt and her battery mate, catcher Allie Hock (Lawrence, Kan./Free State).

Simpson got to Simon early in game two, plating three runs in the third inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Host stroked a two-RBI double to the centerfield wall before the Storm tacked on another run off a wild pitch.

Veronika Roshek (Urbandale, Iowa/Johnston) drove in the Storm's fourth run on a fielder's choice in the fourth and Oviatt held Coe to no runs and five hits in her second complete-game effort of the day to earn the win. Simon didn't make it out of the third in the loss.

Simpson will put its winning streak to the test this weekend when it hosts the No. 9 Luther Norse in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday.