Storm unable to rally, drop pair of games

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Simpson College softball team attempted comeback rallies in each of its two games today, but dropped both to Hope and Wheaton (Mass.)

Megan Heidelbauer and Mackenzie James collected three hits each in game two, but the Storm (4-4) saw its late comeback attempt fall short. Maddie Luderman hit her 27th career home run and Ashlyn Steen hit the first home run of her career in game one.

"We came out flat in both games," said Storm head coach Brent Matthias. "I loved how we had great fight in the end of each game, but we have to figure out how to start better and play with more urgency."

GAME ONE: Hope 4, Simpson 1

• The Flying Dutch (6-5) scored two runs early in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead, but the Storm defense came up with a clutch double play to keep the score at 2-0.
• The Storm defense again came through to prevent runs in the next inning, with James gunning down a Hope runner attempting to score from left field.
• However, the Storm offense could not muster opportunities, with the Flying Dutch tacking on another run in the fourth and fifth innings.
• Steen finally got the Storm on the board in the bottom of the sixth, smacking her first career home run to make the score 4-1.
• The Storm got two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but the Flying Dutch held on to preserve the win.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Ashlyn Steen: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
• Maddie Luderman: 1-for-2, BB
• Kate Kriegel: 1-for-2, BB
• Kylee Tucker: 2.0 IP, 2 H, SO

GAME TWO: Wheaton 11, Simpson 9

• The Storm had a less than stellar start in game two, with the Lyons (3-3) jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
• Wheaton added another two runs in the top of the second inning, peppering the Storm defense with a barrage of singles.
• Heidelbauer advanced to third after a single and two throwing errors by the Lyons, followed by a one-out walk drawn by Alexis Ehlers. However, Ehlers was caught stealing and Luderman's well-hit ball was snagged by the Wheaton right fielder.
• After more Wheaton runs, the Storm offense showed up in the bottom of the fourth, with RBI hits from James, Steen, Ehlers, and Caelynn Obleton giving the Storm four runs.
• The Storm comeback continued in the fifth, sparked by Heidelbauer's two-RBI double, but the inning ended with a Wheaton tag out at home, as the Storm looked for another run.
• Luderman smacked a solo shot to center field, cutting the deficit to 11-8 in the bottom of the sixth.
• Heidelbauer again came through in the bottom of the seventh to keep the Storm alive with another RBI base hit, but Wheaton got the final out to escape with an 11-9 win.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Megan Heidelbauer: 3-for-4, 3 RBI
• Mackenzie James: 3-for-4, RBI, 2 runs
• Katie Shaner: 2-for-3, 2B
• Maddie Luderman: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
• Alyssa Breckner: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 2 BB

NOTABLE

• The Storm are now 1-3 against Hope and 2-4 against Wheaton all-time.
• Luderman is now five home runs away from breaking the all-time record.
• The Storm ended up outhitting the Lyons in game two, 15-14.
• Heidelbauer led the Storm with three RBIs, while Steen also had two RBIs on the day for the Storm.

UP NEXT
The Storm have an off day before returning to face off with Beloit and Belhaven on Wednesday.