Storm tame Panthers for afternoon sweep

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Playing its first two home games after the installation of turf at the Simpson Softball Complex, the Simpson softball team swept Greenville in an afternoon doubleheader on Saturday.

The Storm (14-4) got two homers in game one from Maddie Luderman, while Taryan Barrick-Wessels threw a one-hitter over five innings. In game two, the Storm won for the first time after allowing its opponent to score first, aided by brilliant offensive and defensive performances from Alexis Ehlers and Caelynn Obleton.

Game One: Simpson 10, Greenville 1

Much like the team did in Florida, the Storm got off to a fast start. Ashlyn Steen drew a leadoff walk, before Kate Kriegel reached on an error. Luderman then stepped up and blasted a shot to dead center, giving the Storm a 3-0 lead before the Panthers (5-5) could even record an out.

In the second inning, Obleton stepped up for the first of multiple clutch hits, singling to left field to drive in Megan Heidelbauer. After Steen reached base again, Luderman delivered another bomb, a three-run shot to right field that put the Storm up 7-0.

Meanwhile, after allowing a leadoff walk, Barrick-Wessels retired the next 11 batters, flirting with a no-hitter deep into the fourth inning, but Mia Boyd launched a home run to deep right center, putting the Panthers on the board.

The Storm put the game beyond doubt in the bottom of the fourth. Luderman, dangerously close to her third home run of the day, doubled to center field with two outs. After the Storm drew two walks, Ehlers singled through the left infield gap, giving the Storm a 10-1 lead heading into the top of the fifth.

Barrick-Wessels recovered from the solo shot to retire three of the Panthers' four batters in the top of the fifth, giving the Storm a win via the run rule. As she did at Greenville last year, Barrick-Wessels allowed just one hit in the win, improving her record to 6-3 on the year.

Game Two: Simpson 4, Greenville 3

The Storm knew that game two would be a tougher challenge, as the Greenville starter, Alison Klaus, had not allowed an earned run in her first three appearances on the year. After a leadoff walk for the Panthers, a throwing error for Simpson allowed the Panthers to take a 1-0 lead after the first inning. The Panthers doubled their lead with another two-out run in the top of the second, after a single from Emma Funk got past the infield and on into right field.

The Storm were 0-4 coming in after its opponent scored first, but got right to work in the bottom of the second to change that. Cameron Martin started the inning with a leadoff single, followed by Ehlers smashing a home run to left field, tying the game at two. Rylee Purvis walked, stole second, and then moved up to third on a passed ball, putting her in position to score. Obleton stepped up again and delivered a bunt single to third base, beating the throw and allowing Purvis to score.
Obleton, who made multiple great defensive plays on the day as well, gave the Storm a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third, with a single to center field scoring Ehlers. After that, the defense started to gain the upper hand, with Klaus retiring five of the next six batters. Madeline Petersen was relieved by Makayla Bryant and Obleton gave her some help, with runners on first and second and one out. She handled a chopper to third, stepped on the bag for the force out and then rifled a throw to Karlie Hill to complete the double play.

Now in the top of the seventh, the Storm sent in Kylee Tucker to close the game out. However, Funk made it a lot more interesting with a home run to cut the lead to 4-3. The Storm got two outs, before the Panthers drew a walk. After a battle with the next batter, Tucker got a groundout to end the game and give the Storm a pair of wins in its first two home games of the year.

Luderman collected five RBIs to lead the Storm on the day, while Ehlers added four total with two in each game. Obleton led the team in hits with four, also adding three RBIs in clutch situations. The Storm pitching staff allowed just seven hits in the 12 innings that were played, with Barrick Wessels (6-3) and Petersen (4-0) earning the win. Tucker earned the save for the Storm, her first of the year.

Up Next

The Storm will host Monmouth (Ill.) in another doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 1 p.m. Stay tuned to simpsonathletics.com in case of any changes due to inclement weather.