Simpson claims doubleheader sweep at Nebraska Wesleyan

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Simpson College softball opened its three-game set with a doubleheader sweep of Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday. The Storm won 7-1 in the opener before ending the nightcap early in a 12-3 contest.

Simpson (11-14, 8-9 A-R-C) erupted for 24 hits during the two games, while Brooke Tucker and Taryan Barrick-Wessels both tossed complete games to aid the squad.

Game One: Simpson 7, Nebraska Wesleyan 1
The Prairie Wolves (10-15, 8-9 A-R-C) scored early after the first two batters clubbed hits to begin the contest. Tucker settled down after that to not allow another hit until the fifth inning.

The Storm stayed off the scoreboard until the top of the fifth. After the first three batters reached via base hits, Camrey Leo drove in a pair with a double. Megan Crockett continued the rally with a two-run single and Tucker capped off the five-run fifth with an RBI groundout.

The run-scoring tandem of Leo and Crockett delivered once again, this time in the sixth. Leo drove in Randie Richmond on a triple and Crockett pushed a ball through the infield to score Leo.

With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, Tucker worked out of the jam by striking out a batter and forcing one to line out to Crockett in left field. The freshman worked a one-two-three seventh for her second victory of the season and ended with seven strikeouts.

Richmond finished with three hits, while Leo and Crockett each had two and three RBIs.

Game Two: Simpson 12, Nebraska Wesleyan 3
The hosts pushed a run across in the first to snap a string of six-straight frames without a runner that scored. Simpson answered with a run in the second to knot the game at 1-1. Taylor Stamm scored on a base hit from Caitlynne Shadle.

Crockett led the third off with a solo shot for her sixth homer of the season and Simpson finished with six runs on seven hits as 11 batters came to the plate.

After Nebraska Wesleyan scored a pair in the third, the Storm added two of their own in the fourth to place the game at 9-3. Simpson wanted to end the twinbill early and plated three runs in the sixth. Shadle provided the exclamation point with a two-run double to put the run rule in place.

Barrick-Wessels ended with six strikeouts for her third triumph of the season. The offense provided her some help by hitting six extra-base hits, including two doubles from Georgia Porter.

Up Next
Simpson returns to the diamond tomorrow to close the three-game set with Nebraska Wesleyan. First pitch is slated for noon in Lincoln, Nebraska.