Softball loses to Cortland, Catholic

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Simpson softball team was on the verge of a huge upset Monday at the Rebel Spring Games, but ended up going 0-2 on the day with losses to Cortland State and Catholic.

Simpson fell to Cortland State 6-4 and Catholic 6-2.

The Storm (10-4) led No. 4 Cortland State 4-1 going into the seventh inning before last year's Division III runners up put five on the board to get the win. The quick turnaround to game two didn't fare well for the offense, as the bats never got rolling in the loss to Catholic.

Simpson gets a well-deserved day off Tuesday before returning to action Wednesday, March 12 against Mount St. Joseph and Defiance.

CORTLAND STATE 6, SIMPSON 4
Abbie Van Vleet held the No. 4 team in the nation to just one run off five hits in the first six innings before the Red Dragons batted around in the seventh. A three-run homer by Alicia Hibbard proved to be the game winner, making the score 6-4. 

Van Vleet and Stacie Brown hit back-to-back doubles as part of a three-run fourth inning and Hailey Jensen scored on a wild pitch in the fifth as Simpson took a 4-1 lead after five.

CATHOLIC 6, SIMPSON 2
Defensive miscues in the first two innings allowed Catholic to score three unearned runs and take a 4-1 lead it would not relinquish. Van Vleet and Ashley Prettyman each went 2-for-3 and Tori Haag and Hillary Harmon drove in runs for the Storm. Kaytlyn Ernst was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs – just one earned - off three hits in four innings.