Simpson opens Luther series with twinbill split

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson College softball team started its final regular-season home series with a doubleheader split against Luther on Friday. The Norse won 7-4 in a nine-inning affair in the opener, before the Storm reeled off an 8-2 triumph.

Camrey Leo had four hits in the doubleheader, while the squad finished with 15. The visitors tallied 22 during the twinbill, but Simpson outscored Luther 12-9.

Game One: Luther 7, Simpson 4 (9 innings)
A double by Taryan Barrick-Wessels scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to hand the Storm a quick 2-0 advantage.

Brooke Tucker kept the visitors off the scoreboard until the top of the sixth. The Norse scored on a bases-loaded fielder's choice to cut the deficit in half. Simpson responded with a pair in the bottom of the frame. Camrey Leo tallied an RBI single and Megan Crockett forced an error that scored a runner.

The Norse completed a three-run rally in the top of the seventh to force the game to continue. Abby Spore belted a two-run double before scoring on an RBI single from Emily Versnik.

Simpson had a chance for the walk-off victory in the seventh. With runners on second and third with no outs, Maddie Luderman laid down the bunt for the suicide squeeze, but a quick response by Luther's defense tagged Olivia Allen out at home on the slide. The Storm stranded two runners in scoring position through the next two outs.

Both teams went through the eighth without a run, until the Norse scored in the ninth. Elsa Skeie connected on a three-run homer to clinch the team's first lead of the day for the victory.

Tucker allowed just three earned runs in 8.1 innings of work in her first loss of the season.

Game Two: Simpson 8, Luther 2
Luther continued its scoring spree in the top of the first by tallying two runs on three hits, including back-to-back singles. Sara Trent put the Storm on the board in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI groundout.

Through the next three innings, Simpson did not tally a hit, while the Norse had two during that span. Allen broke up the hitless streak with a run-scoring double in the fifth. The junior plated Georgia Porter with her first extra-base hit of her career. Allen then scored on a hit by Leo to make it a 3-2 contest.

Simpson erupted for five runs in the sixth to increase the lead to 8-2. Luther committed four errors to go along with three Storm hits. Randie Richmond highlighted the inning with a two-run single and Allen tallied a sacrifice fly, which led to two additional runs scoring on a throwing error.

Emily Bell earned her second win of the season inside the circle for Simpson. Bell was tasked with pitching in relief in the first and allowed four hits during her 6.1 innings of work.

Up Next
The Storm close out their home slate on Sunday with the finale against Luther at 2 p.m. Before the game, Simpson will honor its eight seniors: Emily Bell, Brynna Bowman, Megan Crockett, Camrey Leo, Georgia Porter, Caitlynne Shadle, Carlyn Stanley and Sara Trent.