Storm win opener against Loras, fall in finale

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- In the heart of American Rivers Conference play, the Simpson softball team split a doubleheader with Loras on Saturday. The Storm won the opening contest 3-2, and lost 4-2 to close out the weekend.

Errors plagued the Simpson (15-11, 2-4 A-R-C) defense all afternoon. The team combined for seven mishaps in the field and now have 35 for the season. The Duhawks (10-17-1, 1-5 A-R-C) only had three for the day and are last in the leage with a .927 fielding percentage.

Simpson 3, Loras 2
The Storm went on-top early in the bottom of the first. Emily Bell hit a one-out double to right field to get the offense rolling. Kayla Reusche followed with her own two-bagger to score Bell.

Neither team could push a run across over the next three frames until Loras rallied for two runs in the top of the fifth. The visitors had two hits in the inning and forced an error on the Simpson defense to help gain the 3-2 lead.

Simpson waited until the bottom of the sixth with two outs to plate two runs to regain the lead. Claire Oetting ripped a ball to second that was misplayed and was able to score two Storm runners to go out in front 4-2.

Bell was able to send Loras down one-two-three to earn her eighth win of the season. At one point during the game, Bell retired eight-straight batters. She finished with five strikeouts.

Loras 4, Simpson 2
Loras put a two-spot on the board in the opening frame with three hits, one less than the team had in the first contest.

The Storm scored a run in the bottom of the first after Bell notched another double. Reusche was able to drive her in with a sacrifice fly.

The Duhawks added one more in the third and Simpson tallied one in the bottom of that inning to stay within one run. Sara Trent recorded a sac fly for her 13th RBI of the season.

The visitors pushed another run across in the fourth to take the 4-2 lead and never looked back.

In the bottom of the fifth, Simpson had a good chance to tie or take the lead. The team had runners on first and third with one out, but could not put the ball in play to advance a runner.

Bell took the loss and is now 8-3 during her sophomore campaign and has a 1.65 earned run average, fourth best in the conference.

Ashley Allen ended with two hits, her second two-hit performance of the season.

Up Next
The Storm remain home on Tuesday when Grinnell visits for a contest that was rescheduled due to the rainy weather earlier in the week. First pitch will begin at 5 p.m. and Todd Guessford will have the call from the Simpson Softball Complex.