Big fourth inning leads to Sunday split

LEESBURG, Fla. – With the help of a big fourth inning against the Vikings, the Simpson College softball team split its Sunday games in the Sunshine State. The Storm defeated North Park 10-5 in the opener before getting shut out by Amherst, 4-0, in game two.

Simpson (4-2) continues action bright and early Monday morning. The Storm will face Washington at 9 a.m. before taking on William Patterson at 11:15 a.m.

Game 1: Simpson 10, North Park 5
After back-and-forth action in the first three innings, the Storm erupted for seven runs on five hits and one error in the fourth for a 9-4 lead at the halfway point of the contest. All seven of Simpson's runs in the frame came with two outs on the board as Liv Erickson ignited the scoring with a two-RBI triple, Megan Crockett doubled to left, and the trio of Brooke Tucker, Maddie Luderman and Taryan Barrick-Wessels all had singles.

The Vikings loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, but were only able to push one run across as Tucker (1-1) ended the threat with back-to-back outs. Barrick-Wessels plated the final run of the game in the sixth with a base hit to left field.

Game 2: Amherst 4, Simpson 0
After accumulating 11 hits in the opener, Simpson's bats fell quiet against the Mammoths. Rachel Lovej opened the game with a homer and Amherst never looked back, adding another score in the first as well as two between the fifth and sixth frames.