Allen, Bell lead Storm to win over Olivet

CHICAGO -- Ashley Allen drove in two runs and Emily Bell tossed a shutout as the Simpson softball team beat Olivet 4-0 in the first game of North Park Invitational on Saturday. Simpson lost to the host Vikings 5-4 in the nightcap.

Simpson is now 11-7 on the season. The Storm conclude the weekend Sunday, taking on North Park at 11 a.m. and Olivet at 1 p.m.

Simpson 4, Olivet 0 (Game 1)
Bell held Olivet to four hits to pick up her fifth win of the season. The Comets (8-6) managed to put just one runner in scoring position when Taylor Shellenberger led off the fifth with a double. Bell responded by sitting down the next four batters.

Allen provided a bulk of the run support, driving in two runs on a double in the fourth to give the Storm a 3-0 lead. Megan Crockett and Kayla Reusche added RBI singles as Simpson won with small ball—nine of the team's 10 hits were singles. Reusche went 2-for-3 to lead Simpson at the plate.

North Park 5, Simpson 4 (Game 2)
Alyssa Aragon drove in the game-winning run on a single in the fifth as North Park came back from a 4-2 deficit to beat Simpson. The Storm trailed 2-1 before getting three runs in the third. Sara Trent scored on a Viking error, Camrey Leo drove in a run on a bunt single and a sacrifice fly by Madi Bennett made it 4-2.

Aragon drove in the tying run as part of a two-run third. Simpson managed just one hit in the final four innings and couldn't fully capitalize on five Viking errors.

Brooke Fonley (2-1) suffered the loss in relief of Mary Leopold, allowing three runs—all earned— in 2 2/3 innings.