Storm top Knights in pair of comeback wins

WAVERLY - Kylie Van Houten brought home the winning run in the seventh inning of game two as Simpson swept a doubleheader against Wartburg on Tuesday with a pair of come-from-behind wins.

The Storm (18-8, 4-0 Iowa Conference) trailed by two in a 9-3 game-one win and had to erase a one-run deficit in game two's 5-3 win.

Game 1 - Simpson 9, Wartburg 3
Trailing 2-0 after one inning and 3-2 after three, Van Houten sparked a four-run fourth inning which helped the Storm to the 9-3 win.

Hillary Harmon homered and Keri Sorensen went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Kiersten Ruff went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Kacee Arey (9-3) went six innings and struck out four in the win.

Van Houten led off the fourth with a pinch-hit double to left, scoring one batter later on a single by Ruff. She added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, finishing with 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Janelle Schneiderman (0-4) took the loss in relief for the Knights.

Game 2 - Simpson 5, Wartburg 3
Tied 3-3 after six, Van Houten connected on a two-RBI double with two outs in the top of the seventh to give Simpson the 5-3 win.

Van Houten finished the game going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Vernoica Roshek and Allie Hock each went 2-for-4. Tieryn Potratz connected on her league-leading 13th home run of the season, giving her 31 RBIs on the season, 10 away from tying Simpson's single-season record.

Bryn Johnson (3-2) picked up the win in relief, tossing the final two innings.

Down 2-1 in the sixth, Simpson scored twice to take a 3-2 lead. Ruff brought home a run with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and Chelsea Winegard scored Harmon on a sacrifice fly.

Lauren Popov (2-7) went the distance for Wartburg in the losing effort.

Simpson gets a break from conference play when it hosts Westminster in a doubleheader on Thursday. First pitch from McBride Field is set for 3 p.m.