Storm split with Buena Vista in season finale

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Kacee Arey threw a complete-game shutout and Veronica Roshek made an immediate impact in her return to the lineup in the opener as the Simpson softball team split its regular season finale with Buena Vista on Saturday afternoon.

The Storm (27-13, 10-6 Iowa Conference) won game one 2-0 before falling 6-0 in the nightcap. At the end of the day Simpson learned it secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Iowa Conference Tournament.

After sitting out the previous four games due to a concussion, Roshek showed no signs of rust. Just a few hours removed from Simpson's commencement ceremonies, the senior went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

In her first at-bat since April 14, she singled up the middle. She drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the third and came around to score on a throwing error later in the inning.

Arey (24-13) carried a no-hitter through five innings before surrendering a bunt-single to Brooke Berkey to lead off the sixth. She struck out three and walked four.

The Beavers (17-15, 7-9) got to Arey in game two.

The junior right-hander gave up a season-high 15 hits in the loss, Simpson's first at home against Buena Vista since 2001.

Despite the hot-hitting opposition, Arey held the Beavers off the board until Sam Engleman's solo homer broke a scoreless tie in the fifth.

Two-run singles by Stephanie Hayden and Samantha Knudsen sparked a five-run sixth for the visitors as Buena Vista opened up a 6-0 lead.

The Storm offense managed only five hits off starting pitcher Chancey Wilcke (14-11) and couldn't take advantage of a few Buena Vista errors.

Chelsea Winegard gave Simpson its best scoring opportunity in the fourth. With one out, Winegard reached on an error and moved to third on a base hit by Tieryn Potratz. She tried to score on Carissa Coopman's ground ball to the second baseman but was cut down at the plate.

Hayden and Wilke each had three hits and two RBIs for Buena Vista. Hillary Harmon had two hits for the Storm.

Simpson is off until the Iowa Conference Tournament, which will be hosted by top-seeded Luther on May 3-5 in Decorah, Iowa. With the No. 3 seed, the Storm will face the No. 6 seed in the first round of the double-elimination tournament. The final seed will be determined after Sunday's games.

Notes: Three seniors took the field at Simpson Softball Complex for the final time Saturday: Carissa Coopman, Keri Sorensen and Veronica Roshek ... with two assists in game two, Sorensen became the program's all-time assists leader with 271, passing Melissa Tracy (270 from 1996-99).