Bennett, Reusche provide spark for Storm offense

CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Simpson softball offense produced 13 combined runs on Friday to win 4-1 over Becker and 9-6 over Smith in the PFX Spring Games.

The Storm move to 8-6 and will take on Finlandia at 8 a.m. (CT) and MCLA at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow morning, which is the first meeting against both programs.

Simpson 4, Becker 1
The Storm got on the board early in the second with a two-run double from Madi Bennett, which was her sixth and seventh RBIs of the season to tie for second on the team. Claire Oetting added to the scoring in the third inning after hitting a sacrifice fly to score Maxie Saceda-Hurt.

While down 3-0, the Hawks (1-7) broke into the scoring column with a RBI double.

Simpson added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Amron Born.

Ashley Allen, Sara Trent and Bennett each had two hits to pace the squad.

Inside the circle, Mary Leopold notched her first win of the year after tossing 4.1 innings and she only gave up one run. Brooke Fonley came in relief and secured her first save this season. Kelli Hanson held down the Becker offense and struck out two batters in her 1.2 innings of action.

Simpson 9, Smith 6
After scoring a run on a Megan Crockett double, Kayla Reusche cleared the bases with a three run triple to jump start the offense against Smith (3-6).

The Pioneers scratched three runs across in the top of the second to make it a 4-3 contest. Georgia Porter drove in Brynna Bowman in the bottom half of the inning to increase the lead.

Smith followed with another run of its own in the third, but the Storm responded in a big way by putting a four spot on the scoreboard. Camrey Leo had a RBI single and then Crockett and Porter both walked with the bases loaded. Trent closed out the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the sixth, the Pioneers had a scoring threat and they capitalized on it with a two-run single from their leadoff batter. Smith got a runner on in the seventh, but Emily Schilke stayed strong in the circle and tallied her first save of the season with a strikeout.

Randie Richmond moved to 2-0 on the year and Lizzy Adams had three innings of relief work.

At the dish, Crockett was the only Storm batter with multiple hits. Reusche received her first career three-RBI game with her hit in the first inning.