Storm clinch conference tourney berth behind Senior Day sweep of Luther

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson College softball team will be playing in this year's American Rivers Conference Tournament after a sweep of Luther on Senior Day, that included Maddie Luderman tying the program's all-time home runs record.

Luderman's solo shot in the bottom of the fourth tied the all-time record of 31 home runs that had been held by Tieryn Potratz. The Storm (26-12, 9-7 A-R-C) earned a clutch game one win behind a brilliant relief pitching performance from Kylee Tucker and timely hits from Katie Shaner and Kate Kriegel. The Norse (27-13, 9-7 A-R-C) were unable to recover in game two, mustering zero runs against Taryan Barrick-Wessels as the Storm clinched their spot in postseason play.

GAME ONE: Simpson 4, Luther 3

• The Norse started off quick, with Anna Forari taking the second pitch of the game deep to left field for a 1-0 lead.
• Simpson answered immediately in the bottom of the first, with a two-out RBI double from Katie Shaner tying the game at 1-1.
• Luther tacked on a run via an error and another solo shot in back-to-back innings, but the Storm got one back with Luderman's 31st career home run, tying the Simpson all-time record.
• Simpson took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, with Shaner hitting a deep sacrifice fly to score Ashlyn Steen. Kriegel then delivered a two-out single to give the Storm a 4-3 lead.
• Tucker shut the door over the final two innings, preserving a crucial victory for Simpson.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Ashlyn Steen: 2-for-3, 2 runs, BB, 2 SB
• Maddie Luderman: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, run
• Katie Shaner: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2B
• Kylie Tucker: 5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 3 SO, win

GAME TWO: Simpson 9, Luther 0 (5 Innings)

• The Storm started on fire to begin game two, plating four runs in the bottom of the first via two-run singles from Megan Heidelbauer and Mackenzie James.
• Simpson completely opened up the game in the second inning, with a single from Caelynn Obleton followed up by a two-run smash from Alexis Ehlers.
• The Storm capped off a terrific performance in the next two innings, with a homerun from Heidelbauer hitting the scoreboard in right field and senior Makayla Bryant lofting an RBI double down the right field line.
• Barrick-Wessels allowed five hits over five innings, but did not allow Luther to score, only the second time in 40 games that the Norse were held scoreless.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Alexis Ehlers: 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs, BB, SB
• Megan Heidelbauer: 2-for-2, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs
• Ashlyn Steen: 2-for-3, run
• Mackenzie James, 1-for-2, 2 RBI
• Taryan Barrick-Wessels: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, win

NOTABLE

• Luderman tied the career home run record for Simpson with the 31st of her career.
• The sweep snapped a six-game losing streak against the Norse.
• Simpson will be back in the conference tournament after a two-year absence.
• Barrick-Wessels earned her tenth win of the season, the most in a single season in her career.

RECORD WATCH

• Alexis Ehlers now has 44 RBIs this year, just one away from tying the Storm's single-season record.
• Ehlers also remains one double away from tying the single-season mark in that category too.

UP NEXT
The Storm do not know exactly which seed they will be or they will play in next week's conference tournament until the rest of the league completes its games early next week.