Simpson splits at Grinnell Hy-Vee Classic

GRINNELL - The Simpson offense pounded out 32 hits and 25 runs at the Grinnell Hy-Vee Classic on Friday, beating host Grinnell 17-2 in the opener and losing to No. 24 Washington-St. Louis 12-8 in game two.

With the win over Grinnell, head coach Henry Christowski improved his career record to 498-149. He has a chance to pick up win No. 500 on Saturday when the Storm (14-8) host Dubuque in a doubleheader at Simpson Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

Simpson 17, Grinnell 2 (5 innings)
Hillary Harmon went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, Tieryn Potratz had four hits and Simpson produced 20 hits as a team in the five-inning game.

The Storm took advantage of six errors by the Pioneers (0-13), scoring six unearned runs.

Keri Sorensen went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Carissa Coopman went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Allison Barloon earned the win in the circle. Barloon (4-1) held Grinnell hitless in 2 1/3 innings.

Simpson led 4-2 after three innings before scoring five in the fourth and eight in the fifth. Amanda Stromquist took the loss for the Pioneers.

No. 24 Washington-St. Louis 12, Simpson 8
Allie Hock drove in four runs on 3-for-4 hitting but Simpson didn't have enough firepower to hang with Washington-St. Louis in a 12-8 loss.

Hock doubled twice for the Storm, who dug themselves a 3-1 hole after one inning. A two-RBI double by Hock in the fourth capped a four-run inning, tying the game 5-5 before a solo home run by Maggie Mullen and an RBI double by Kathy Peter put the Bears (17-5-1) ahead for good in the third inning.

Alex Fjeldheim drove in three runs and Claire Voris (7-2) picked up the win for the Bears. Amanda Enochs went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Kacee Arey (6-3) took the loss.