Errors costly as Storm lose two to Wartburg

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson softball team had some uncharacteristic struggles in the field and couldn't get the bats going in a doubleheader loss to Wartburg on Wednesday, losing game one 7-1 before dropping the nightcap 8-0 in six innings.

Coming into the game having committed just three errors in six Iowa Conference games, the Storm (5-21, 0-8 Iowa Conference) committed six errors that turned into 11 unearned runs against Wartburg. Three errors turned into six unearned tallies in game one and three errors resulted in five unearned in game two.

Mara Forsyth hit her conference-leading 10th home run of the season in game one and Taylor Smola hit two long balls in game two for the Knights (17-11, 5-3). 

Simpson managed seven hits in the opener but stranded eight on base, getting the leadoff hitter on in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. Kaleigh Snyder drove in Simpson's only run on double to left in the second, scoring Taylor Davis to pull Simpson within 2-1. 

Wartburg added two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to pull away.

Just as in game one, Simpson was able to get things started frequently in game two, as the leadoff batter reached base in five of six innings. But Simpson left six on base in the game, going 0-for-13 with runners on base. 

Smola started the scoring with a solo homer in the second and added a three-run shot in the fifth.

Maggie Long (1-11) went the distance in the game one, giving up one earned run off eight hits and one walk. Madison Rasmusson (3-8) allowed seven runs -- two earned -- off seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in game two.

Up next
Simpson hosts Northwestern (Iowa) in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday at Simpson Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.