Simpson hangs tough against No. 23 Loras

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Simpson College softball team put forth a solid effort against the No. 23 team in the country, but ultimately fell 3-2 and 4-3 to Loras in Sunday's American Rivers Conference doubleheader.

Junior Brooke Tucker had a big day for the Storm (16-9, 1-3 A-R-C) with three hits including a two-run home run in game one and two doubles in the nightcap. She got the starting nod in the opener and held the Duhawks (15-1, 2-0 A-R-C) hitless for five innings after surrendering an early home run. Tucker tallied a career-high nine strikeouts in the effort.

The Storm are next in action on Tuesday afternoon when Dubuque makes the trip to Indianola for a league doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

Game 1: Loras 3, Simpson 2
All five runs came on two swings as Jadyn Anderson smashed a three-run homer in the bottom of the first for the Duhawks and Tucker connected on her first career long ball in the fifth to bring the Storm within one. Maddie Luderman led the inning off with a double, the Storm's first hit and base runner of the day.

Simpson had a golden opportunity to tie the game with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the seventh, but Loras' Ashlyn Helm, who ranks second in NCAA DIII in strikeouts, tallied two in a row to escape without any damage.

Along with her two-run homer, Tucker had a strong outing in the circle. She struck out nine Duhawks and gave up just two hits, both in the first inning. The two hits tied a season-low for the nationally-ranked squad.

Game 2: Loras 4, Simpson 3
The Storm would be the ones to take a 3-0 lead in game two. Liv Erickson opened the game with a single to center field and Randie Richmond followed with a double to left center. The duo came around to score on an error by the Loras infield.

Tucker doubled another run home in the third inning, but the Duhawks managed to crawl out of the hole with three runs on three hits in the fourth. Anderson scored the go-ahead run in the sixth to spoil Simpson's chances of a split.

Erickson and Tucker were both 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Storm. Both of Tucker's hits were doubles, giving her three extra-base hits and a 1.333 slugging percentage on the day.