Storm drop pair of games at home against Central

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson College softball team rued missed opportunities at the plate and defensive errors, dropping a pair of games to nationally ranked Central, Tuesday, at Simpson Softball Complex.

The Dutch (22-4, 3-1 A-R-C) continue to chase league-leading Coe, while the Storm (18-10, 1-5 A-R-C) have dropped five straight, despite multiple of those being winnable.

Game One: Central 4, Simpson 2

The Storm had a pair of slow starts against Coe on Saturday and that continued defensively in the top of the first. The Dutch got two runners on, but an outfield error by the Storm allowed the Dutch to take a 1-0 lead, despite a pair of strikeouts by Makayla Bryant to help get out of the inning.

The Storm answered back immediately, however. Ashlyn Steen, back in the leadoff spot, singled to left field to begin the game. Alexis Ehlers then delivered a sharply hit ball that hit Central pitcher Sydni Huisman, allowing Ehlers to reach and Steen to score, tying the game at one.

Central retook the lead in the top of the third, as the Storm traded an out for a run with a groundball hit to Ehlers with a runner on third. The Storm answered once again in the next half-inning with Obleton and Steen recording back-to-back singles to start. A fielder's choice by Ehlers tied the game at 2-2, but the Storm rued a missed chance to go in front, loading the bases, but were unable to capitalize.

Central broke the tie again in the top of the fifth after a pair of singles led to a two-out RBI hit by the Dutch, to take the lead 3-2. Central added another run, again in two-out fashion, in the top of the 6th to lead 4-2. The Dutch then retired the next six Storm batters to preserve the lead.

Ehlers had both RBIs for the Storm, as the Dutch outhit the Storm 10-5, with the Storm committing the lone error of the game. Steen had two hits while Sierra Franklin threw two scoreless innings of relief to end the game.

Game Two: Central 8, Simpson 7

Game two was completely different from game one, but the theme of the Storm allowing its opponents to score early came true again. The Dutch drew a two-out walk, with the next batter hit a grounder to Ehlers, whose throw was difficult and off-balance. The throw was mishandled by the Storm and allowed the runner who walked before to score from first.

The Storm loaded the bases again in the bottom of the first, but they were left stranded again after a force out at home and a controversial strike three call on a full count. The Dutch took advantage by scoring three runs in the top of the second, with two Storm errors contributing as well.

Simpson got on the board in the bottom of the second, with Steen driving in Megan Heidelbauer to make the score a 4-1 game, but the Dutch responded with a run in the top of the third. Despite four walks by the Storm, the Dutch only mustered one run in the inning.

The bottom of the third started off with Maddie Luderman smashing a solo shot to left-center field, cutting the lead to 5-2. The Storm were not done there yet, either, loading the bases via the next three batters. Heidelbauer drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and the Storm were within two with zero outs still. What followed was a strange situation, starting with Caelynn Obleton hitting a two-run single down the left field line. The Storm celebration was cut short, however, as there was a near 15 minute delay as the Central coach debated a lineup card. At the end, the umpires ruled the play to stand and the game was tied at 5-5. However, the Storm struck out twice in a row to end the inning, passing on a golden opportunity to take the lead.

The Dutch broke the tie again in the top of the fifth, with two runners on and one out. Another Storm error allowed one run to score, followed by an RBI groundout and a two-out single to give Central an 8-5 lead.

The Storm were down to its last three outs in the bottom of the seventh, but an Ehlers single followed by a deeply hit ball to left field dropped by the Central outfielder from Cameron Martin gave the Storm runners on second and third. The Dutch got a massive strikeout, but Payton Ganzer worked an RBI groundout to get the deficit to 8-6. The Storm were down to the last out, but Heidelbauer smacked a single into right-center field, making it just a one-run game. Obleton kept the Storm alive with a base hit, but a called strike three on Steen ended the comeback attempt.

Steen, Ehlers, and Obleton all had three hits between the two games, with Luderman also reaching base four times on one hit and three walks. Taryan-Barrick Wessels pitched well in relief in game two, only allowing four hits and zero earned runs to go along with six strikeouts.

Up Next

The Storm step out of conference play to take on Monmouth at home on Saturday at 1 p.m.