Simpson sweeps Dubuque, Christowski gets 500th win

INDIANOLA - Simpson swept Dubuque 7-2 and 5-0 at Simpson Softball Complex on Saturday, giving head coach Henry Christowski his 500th career win.

In 16 seasons as Simpson's head coach, Christowski is 500-149, winning two national championships (1997 and 1999), five Iowa Conference titles and appearing in the NCAA Tournament eight times. He becomes only the 28th coach in NCAA Division III softball history to reach the 500-win milestone.

Tieryn Potratz hit her 12th home run of the season in game one for the Storm (16-8, 2-0 Iowa Conference), as she and Keri Sorensen each drove in three runs on the day. Veronica Roshek, Carissa Coopman and Allie Hock had three hits apiece and pitcher Kacee Arey (8-3) earned both wins in the circle.

Simpson 7, Dubuque 2
Potratz hit a three-run home run as part of a 4-run fourth inning that broke a scoreless tie en-route to the 7-2 win.

Potratz finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Storm. Roshek and Coopman each went 2-for-3 and Kylie Van Houten drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the sixth. Arey gave up one hit and struck out four in the win, going 5 2/3 innings.

Kate Wiersema went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Spartans (10-9, 0-2). Melissa Webster (4-2) took the loss, allowing four runs off seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Tied 0-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, two-out singles by Coopman and Enochs set the stage for Potratz's three-run blast, which cleared the fence in left field.

Simpson 5, Dubuque 0
Sorensen's bases-clearing double with two outs in the fifth broke open a 1-0 game, giving Simpson some much-needed breathing room in the 5-0 win.

The Spartans out-hit the Storm 11-9 but stranded 13 runners in the game, including leaving the bases loaded in the second, third and sixth innings.

Arey fanned Shawna Dole to get out of a jam in the second and she induced a pop-out by Wiersema in the third. Entering the game with two runners on in the sixth, Bryn Johnsonn walked the first batter she faced before striking out Chirstina Chamberlain with the bases loaded.

Sorensen finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and Hock went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Arey got the win, allowing seven hits but no runs in 4 1/3.

Susan Danielewski went 3-for-4 for the Spartans. Chamberlain suffered the loss in the circle, allowing three runs in 4 1/3.

The Storm return to action Tuesday, April 5 when they travel to Waverly for a doubleheader against Wartburg. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.