Simpson braves cold in sweep of Northwestern

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Kylie Van Houten hit a walk-off homer to win game one and hit two-run bomb in game two as the No. 18 Simpson softball team swept a doubleheader against Northwestern (Iowa) on a cold Saturday afternoon at Indianola High School's softball field.

Van Houten and Jessica Toyne accounted for four of the team's five home runs on the day as the Storm (19-3) tallied 21 hits against Northwestern pitching.

The games were played at Indianola High School due to unplayable field conditions on campus and the temperature hovered in the mid-30s. Snow started to move into the area by the end of the second game.

Game 1
Simpson trailed 4-3 with two outs and runners on first and second when Van Houten roped the first pitch she saw from Keely Bracelin over the left field fence. Ashley Prettyman walked to lead off the inning and Chelsea Winegard reached on an error.

The Red Raiders (9-9) scored three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead before Hailey Jensen and Toyne drove in runs in the home half to pull within a run.

Kacee Arey held the Northwestern lineup in check outside of the fifth, allowing only four hits the rest of the way in the complete-game win. Bracelin (3-7) struck out five in the loss.

Game 2
Simpson led 8-1 after two innings then had hold off Northwestern down the stretch in the 8-6 win.

Van Houten hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run first while Toyne and Stacie Brown went deep in the five-run second. Winegard and Hillary Harmon had two hits apice.

Arey (13-2) earned her second win of the day, throwing a total of 5 1/3 innings. She started the game, left after the third and returned with two outs in the fifth. Katie VandeVoort (5-2) got roughed up early in the loss, allowing all eight of Simpson's runs in 1 2/3 innings of work.

Next Up
The Storm are scheduled to host Westminster (Mo.) in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 26 at 3 p.m.