Storm extend winning streak to six

CLERMONT, Fla. - The Simpson College softball team swept its two opponents in Florida on the second consecutive day, extending its overall winning streak to six games.

Game One: Simpson 10, Fredonia 1

The Storm (5-2) got off to a quick start in the top of the first, with Kate Kriegel doubling to left center and then Maddie Luderman repeating that, driving in Kriegel for a 1-0 Storm lead.

Taryan Barrick-Wessels took the mound again for the Storm, coming off a brilliant performance yesterday. After a leadoff single by the Blue Devils (0-3), Barrick-Wessels retired the next three batters to finish off the first inning.

After Rylee Purvis walked in the second inning, she scored after a throwing error following a ball put in play by Megan Heidelbauer, doubling the Storm lead to 2-0. Luderman, already back up for her second plate appearance, collected her second RBI of the game after a two-out single to right field.

Fredonia got a run back in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 3-1, but the Storm exploded in the top half of the inning with key hits, while also taking advantage of opponent errors once again.

Alexis Ehlers started the inning off with a double, followed by two walks. Freshman Caelynn Obleton then delivered a two-run single to give the Storm a 5-1 lead. Ashlyn Steen, next up to bat, grounded out, but scored Heidelbauer, who was on first before the Obleton single. Another error by Fredonia allowed Obleton to come around the bases and Kriegel to reach safely. A pair of walks advanced Kriegel to third and she eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Storm an 8-1 lead.

Barrick-Wessels continued to shutdown the Blue Devil bats, throwing five innings and striking out seven, only allowing one run. The Storm earned its second victory in mercy-rule fashion after Kriegel doubled to start the fifth inning, followed by Luderman driving her home for her third RBI of the game. Karlie Hill made it 10-1, scoring on a fielder's choice by pinch hitter Ava Lowden. Barrick-Wessels finished the Blue Devils off in the bottom half to give the Storm a 10-1 win in five innings.

Game Two: Simpson 9, Cornell College 7

In game two, the Storm (6-2) took on fellow Iowa school Cornell College. The Rams (0-2) opened their season just before taking on the Storm, falling to Mount Saint Mary College, who the Storm will play tomorrow.

The Storm started fast in the first inning, with Steen and Kriegel both getting on base to leadoff the game. Luderman then continued her impressive day with a three-run blast to left center field, giving the Storm a 3-0 lead before the Rams even recorded an out.

In the next inning, Kriegel singled to center field to drive home Steen, but the Rams got two runs back in the top of the third. The Rams cut the lead to just one run at 4-3 in the top of the fourth after a Storm throwing error and then tied the game after a strikeout was dropped, forcing Luderman to throw to first for the out. When that happened, the runner on third ran home and beat the throw from Hill back to home plate. The Rams then took the lead on an infield single, but the Storm replied in the bottom frame.

With the bases loaded and one out, Luderman hit a ball to the left side of the infield, where the Rams committed a throwing error. Heidelbauer scored on the error, knotting the game back up at five. Up stepped Hill to the plate, who unloaded a deep shot to right center field, clearing the bases and giving the Storm an 8-5 lead. Hill was not done either, as she powered a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to give the Storm an extra insurance run. Both Luderman and Hill finished with four RBIs in game two.

The Rams threatened in the top half of the seventh, though. With runners on second and third with two outs, the Rams hit a single to cut the lead to 9-7. However, Madeline Petersen, who came in to pitch in at the end of the bottom of the fourth, recorded the final out via a strikeout, giving the Storm six straight wins overall.

Luderman totaled seven RBI's over the two contests, while Hill added four of her own in game two. Kriegel reached base in all but one of her plate appearances on the day, leading the team with five runs scored. The Storm had seven players record at least two hits on the day, as the team overall managed 21 base knocks.

Barrick-Wessels earned the win for game one, while Petersen was credited for the decision in game two. Game two starter Makayla Bryant made her first appearance of the year, striking out seven batters. Once again, the Storm limited its mistakes, committing just three errors, including none in game one, while Fredonia and Cornell recorded a combined nine errors.

Up Next

The Storm are back tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a game against Mount Saint Mary College, while taking on Carthage at around 3:30 p.m.