Crockett, Trent power offense in win over Wartburg

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Megan Crockett and Sara Trent each had two home runs as the Simpson softball team won 9-5 over Wartburg in the doubleheader open, but lost 8-1 to split the season series at the Simpson Softball Complex on Saturday.

Crockett belted both her long balls in the victory and Trent split her homers as the Storm moved to 18-14 overall and 5-7 in American Rivers play. The Knights are now 22-10 and 7-5 in the league.

The team's three seniors, Ashley Allen, Arianna Kim and Kayla Reusche were honored for their time in a Simpson uniform.

Simpson 9, Wartburg 5
Coming on the heels of a doubleheader sweep against Nebraska Wesleyan on Tuesday, Simpson kept the momentum rolling by scoring four runs in the opening frame.

Crockett had a one-out double and Reusche walked, which allowed Allen to rip the ball down the third base line for her eighth double of the season to score both of her teammates. Trent followed with her first round-tripper of the afternoon.

The Knights were able to add three runs in the third to cut it to 4-3, but the Storm added another in the bottom half on a Brynna Bowman sacrifice fly. The team stretched the lead even further by adding a run in the fourth and fifth frames. Crockett went deep in the fourth to right and Bowman had a double to plate Amron Born.

Simpson tallied two huge insurance runs in the six inning when Crockett flexed her muscles once again. Wartburg made it interesting in the seventh by loading the bases with no outs and scored two runs before the Storm's defense tightened and held on for the win.

Crockett finished with three hits and is now second in the conference with seven homers. Emily Bell had two doubles and went the distance inside the circle, and now has hit the 10-win plateau for the second-consecutive season.

Wartburg 8, Simpson 1
The Storm started out a little slower in the second game of the doubleheader and waiting until the second inning to score on a Trent home run.

Emily Schilke was cruising inside the circle for Simpson and only had more than one base runner on in only one inning through the first five. Wartburg figured out her stuff and loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. The visitors were able to push a runner across before the Storm made a pitching change and the first batter was walked to score another run.

Two batters later and the Knights extended the tilt to 6-1 on a grand slam and added two more during the inning.

On offense, Simpson only had three hits, its least since having two against Luther on April 2. Aside from Trent's homer, Bowman had the other two base knocks.

Schilke is now even at 2-2 during her junior campaign.

Up Next
After a schedule change, the Storm host Grinnell on Tuesday in a doubleheader that begins at 5 p.m.