Barrick-Wessels tosses no-hitter, Storm extend winning streak to eight

FULTON, Mo. - Taryan Barrick-Wessels threw a five-inning no-hitter and Madeline Petersen threw six innings of two-hit ball to lead the Simpson College softball team to two wins on the road at Westminster (Mo.).

The Storm (13-5) extended their winning streak to eight games behind the terrific pitching performances. Barrick-Wessels and Petersen each struck out seven batters, with the number also being a career-high for Petersen. The Storm offense came alive late in game one and then erupted early in game two. Alexis Ehlers hit a home run in each game and smacked another seven RBI's, while Ashlyn Steen and Caelynn Obleton each had games recording a hit in every plate appearance.

"It took us a while to get started, but once we got settled down I thought all three phases of our team were clicking," said Storm head coach Brent Matthias. "I'm excited that Taryan pitched a no-hitter and it really means a lot for her after she came back for her fifth year. The defense was sharp in both games with no errors and our bats continue to stay hot."

GAME ONE: Simpson 8, Westminster 0

• The game was an old-fashioned pitcher's duel for the majority of the contest. The Blue Jays (3-13) loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but Petersen and the Storm defense escaped the jam.
• Rylee Purvis recorded the Storm's first hit in the top of the fifth with two outs, with Obleton's infield hit driving her home to score the first run of the game.
• With Petersen still dominating the Blue Jays, Maddie Luderman tripled down the right field line to score Alexis Ehlers.
• Mackenzie James added the Storm's third straight extra-base hit in the inning to score Luderman and make the lead 3-0.
• Steen added to the Storm's tally with an RBI single to score Obleton in the top of the seventh, but the exclamation mark was added by Ehlers, who smashed a three-run homer to center field to give Simpson a 7-0 lead.
• Kylee Tucker got into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out all three batters that she got out to end the game.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Alexis Ehlers: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 runs
• Caelynn Obleton: 2-for-2, 2B, RBI, run, BB, 2 SB
• Rylee Purvis: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, SB, run
• Madeline Petersen: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 7 SO, 5 BB
• Kylee Tucker: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO, 2 BB

GAME TWO: Simpson 19, Westminster 0 (5 Innings)

• The Storm were firing out of the gate in game two, with Ehlers doubling to left-center field for a 1-0 Storm lead.
• Luderman added an RBI single from an infield hit, giving Simpson a 2-0 lead. The Storm finished the inning with a 4-0 advantage, with Jenna Norris adding an RBI groundout to score Luderman and Kate Kriegel drawing a bases-loaded walk.
• The Storm picked up where they left off, with Steen and Megan Heidelbauer each recording hits, the latter driving in the former for a 5-0 Storm lead.
• Ehlers then hit her second home run of the day, bringing the Storm lead to 7-0.
• Simpson continued to pile on, with four more runs being scored off combinations of wild pitches, walks, and hits.
• The Storm had 19 runs after the fourth inning, setting the stage for Barrick-Wessels to complete the finishing touches on her no-hitter.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Taryan Barrick-Wessels: 5.0 IP, 0 H, 7 K, 1 BB
• Ashlyn Steen: 4-for-4, 3B, RBI, 2 runs, SB
• Alexis Ehlers: 3-for-3, HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 runs
• Megan Heidelbauer: 1-for-3, 3 RBI, run
• Mackenzie James: 2-for-4, 2B, run
• Kate Kriegel: 0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 RBI, 2 runs
• Katie Shaner: 0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 runs

NOTABLE

• Barrick-Wessels threw her first career no-hitter for the Storm.
• The Storm scored 19 runs in game two, the most in a game since the 21-0 win over Rosemont on March 6, 2018.
• Petersen set her career-high for strikeouts in a game with seven.
• Adding in Tucker's three strikeouts, it was the most strikeouts in a game that Simpson pitching had recorded this season.
• Steen, Ehlers, and Obleton all had at least one game recording a hit in every at-bat.
• Ehlers now has 23 RBIs on the season, which leads the conference.

RECORD WATCH

• Maddie Luderman still sits at 29 home runs, two away from tying the all-time record. 
• Luderman also has 103 RBIs after today's games, eight away from tying the all-time record.

UP NEXT
The Storm return to Indianola on Saturday for the team's home opener, a doubleheader against Cornell College.