Storm tripped by Loras, face elimination Friday

DECORAH - Kelsey Techlin went 3-for-4 and drove in the winning run in the fourth inning as fifth-seeded Loras beat fourth-seeded Simpson, 4-2 in the first game of the 2011 Iowa Conference Tournament on Thursday.

Tracy Sullivan hit a two-run homer for the Duhawks (17-21), who face top-seeded Luther in Thursday's third game.

The Storm (22-17) face elimination Friday when they play the loser of Thursday's final game between second-seeded Central and third-seeded Coe. First pitch is scheduled for Noon and can be heard here.

Trailing 3-0, an RBI double by Veronica Roshek (Urbandale, Iowa) got Simpson on the board in the fifth. She scored one batter later on base hit by Keri Sorensen (Bettendorf, Iowa).

After Loras added a fourth run in the top of the seventh, back-to-back singles by Tieryn Potratz (Fort Dodge, Iowa) and Roshek put runners at first and second with one out. But a fly out and a fielder's choice sent Simpson to Friday's elimination game.

Potratz finished 2-for-4 and Roshek went 2-for-3. Kacee Arey (Lucas, Iowa) took the loss, allowing two runs in 2 2/3. The right-hander (11-7) struck out two and walked three. Bryn Johnson (Laurens, Iowa) tossed the final 4 1/3, striking out two.

Kellie Klein (8-7) went five innings, allowing five hits and two runs in the win. Stephanie Popovich struck out two in the final two innings, picking up her first save the season.