Davis powers Storm to doubleheader sweep of Buena Vista

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Taylor Davis hit three home runs and three freshman pitchers held Buena Vista's vaunted lineup in-check as the Simpson softball team opened Iowa Conference play with a doubleheader sweep, winning game one 6-2 and taking the nightcap 3-1 on a cold Saturday afternoon at Simpson Softball Complex.

Davis homered twice in game one as the Storm (16-6, 2-0) earned their first sweep in an Iowa Conference opener since 2014. Picked fourth in the preseason coaches' poll, the Beavers (11-5, 0-2) dropped their third-straight.

Game One

Simpson 6, Buena Vista 2

How It Happened
• With Simpson leading 4-2 in the third, Taylor Davis hit a line-drive, two-run homer over the fence in left to give the Storm a four-run cushion. Her first long ball was a three-run shot in the first, giving her the first multi-home run game of her career and the first by a Simpson player since 2016.

• Emily Bell kept Buena Vista's dangerous lineup at bay, scattering eight hits. The only runs scored by the Beavers came courtesy of a two-run homer by Autumn Boland in the second that made the score 4-2.

• The top four hitters in Buena Vista's lineup went just 3-for-14 with no RBIs in the game.

Top Offensive Performances
Taylor Davis — 2-3, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs
Kaleigh Snyder — 2-3
Madison Rasmusson — 2-4, R

Pitching Breakdown
Emily Bell — 7.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks

Game Two

Simpson 3, Buena Vista 1

How It Happened
• Davis' two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth was the difference, giving Simpson a 3-0 lead at the time. The Storm were out-hit 6-3 in the game.

• Reliever Kelli Hanson entered the game with two outs and a 2-0 count on Boland in the sixth. After issuing the walk to Boland to load the bases, Hanson got Jeanne Bramhall to fly out to right to end the threat. Hanson earned the save, allowing just one hit in 1 1/3 innings.

• Mary Leopold tossed 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one unearned run in the fifth. She held Buena Vista to five hits to earn her second-straight win.

• The Storm got on the board in the third thanks to a Beaver error. Kasiah Ehresman laid down a sacrifice bunt but an errant throw allowed Kayla Reusche to score from first. Reusche reached after being hit by a pitch, extending her school record to 14 this season.

Top Offensive Performances
Taylor Davis — 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs
Madison Rasmusson — 1-3
Ashley Allen — 1-3

Pitching Breakdown
Mary Leopold — W (3-1), 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Kelli Hanson — S (1), 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 Ks

From the Coach
"I liked how we bounced back [from Tuesday's losses at Grinnell]. We could have hung it up and went through the motions, but this team really works hard and wants to prove to people that we are a pretty good ball club." — head coach Brent Matthias

Up Next
The Storm travel to Wartburg for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 3. Start time is set for 3 p.m.