Walkoff home run powers Storm to sixth straight win

CLERMONT, Fla. - After disposing of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in game one, freshman Mackenzie James launched a three-run home run to walkoff Lake Forest and give the Simpson College softball team its sixth straight win to end its Florida trip.

James, who collected four RBIs on the day, was one of a multitude of Storm hitters with impressive outings. Alexis Ehlers recorded seven RBIs through the two games, while Rylee Purvis hit a grand slam to cap off the game one win. Kylee Tucker went six strong innings to earn the win in game one, improving her pitching record to 4-0 on the year.

"We played two really tough teams today, but our bats were on fire and our pitching did a great job keeping our opponents off-balance," said Storm head coach Brent Matthias. "Game two was a great battle with an in-region team and it was great to end our Florida trip with a walk-off victory."

GAME ONE: Simpson 14, Wis.-Eau Claire 3

• The Storm (11-5) once again got going early, with Ehlers driving home Ashlyn Steen after Steen's leadoff double.
• Jenna Norris recorded yet another two-out scoring hit, doubling to left field to score Ehlers and Maddie Luderman.
• The Storm broke the game open in the second inning, with Ehlers doubling to left field to score another two runs, giving the Storm a 5-0 lead.
• Luderman added an RBI single, before Kate Kriegel's single up the middle drove in two more to give Simpson an 8-0 lead.
• Kriegel's recent hot streak continued, driving in another run to make it 9-0. The Storm flirted with ending it via the run rule, but the Blugolds (2-3) smacked a two-run homer to cut the lead to 9-2.
• The game settled down until the top of the seventh, when the Storm loaded the bases for Purvis. Purvis then smashed a ball to center field for a grand slam, giving Simpson a 14-3 lead.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Rylee Purvis: 3-for-3, GS, 4 RBI
• Alexis Ehlers: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 3 runs
• Kate Kriegel: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, BB
• Jenna Norris: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2B
• Maddie Luderman: 1-for-3, 2 runs, 2 BB, RBI
• Mackenzie James: 2-for-4, 3 runs, BB
• Kylee Tucker: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 SO, win

GAME TWO: Simpson 11, Lake Forest 8

• The Storm got off to another hot start, with Ehlers driving in a run off a fielder's choice in the first inning.
• Simpson added four more in the second, with Ehlers doubling down the left field line to add another two runs.
• The Foresters (6-6) started their comeback immediately in the top of the third, scoring four runs while taking advantage of a Storm error.
• Lake Forest captured the lead in the fourth with two different RBI singles, but Simpson tied it up courtesy of Norris in the bottom half of the inning.
• Simpson benefitted from a wild pitch that scored Kriegel to take a 7-6 lead, but Lake Forest responded right after once again, with a two-run single making it 8-7.
• The Storm headed to the bottom of the seventh down to their last out once again, with Obleton on third base.
• Ehlers came through with a single to third base, after miscommunication by the Foresters defense.
• Luderman reached on a walk, before James smashed the walkoff home run to left field to secure the win for Simpson.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Alexis Ehlers: 2-for-5, 4 RBI, 2 runs, 2B
• Mackenzie James: 2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, BB
• Ashlyn Steen: 1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 BB, RBI, SB
• Caelynn Obleton: 3-for-3, 2 runs
• Makayla Bryant: 1.0 IP, BB, win

NOTABLE

• The Storm recorded 16 hits against the Blugolds, the most in a game this year.
• Purvis hit the third home run of her career and her first grand slam.
• Purvis, Ehlers, and Kriegel recorded at least three RBIs each in game one.
• With seven RBIs on the day, Ehlers now leads the team with 16 on the year.
• The Storm are now 3-0 against Lake Forest and 8-4 against Wis.-Eau Claire all-time.
• Tucker improved her win-loss record to 4-0 on the year.

UP NEXT
The Storm return to Iowa tomorrow, but are back on the road on Tuesday in Missouri against Westminster.