Barrick-Wessels leads Storm to split at Buena Vista

STORM LAKE, Iowa - Taryan Barrick-Wessels tied her career-high with nine strikeouts, as the Simpson softball team split with Buena Vista by winning game one.

The Storm (19-11, 2-6 A-R-C) snapped its losing streak with a decisive game one win behind the pitching of Barrick-Wessels and a couple massive hits in the fifth inning. The Beavers (5-19, 1-5 A-R-C) rebounded to win game two though, coming from behind with their ability to draw walks and record a couple timely hits.

Game One: Simpson 6, Buena Vista 1

The Beavers were the early aggressors in the first inning, loading the bases partly off a Storm error, but Barrick-Wessels managed a massive strikeout to get the Storm out of the inning unscathed. The Beavers threatened again in the following inning with runners on second and third, but this time Barrick-Wessels took care of it herself, fielding a ground ball hit back to her and throwing it to first to keep the score at 0-0.

The Storm's offense struggled early on and the Beavers finally took advantage of its early opportunities in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff walk followed by a single allowed the runner on base from the walk to score on a wild pitch. However, Barrick-Wessels struck out the next two batters and kept the game at a 1-0 score.

The top of the fifth was when the Storm offense finally awoke, starting off with a leadoff single from Megan Heidelbauer. Karlie Hill also singled to right-center field to move Heidelbauer to third after a sacrifice bunt by Kate Kriegel. Caelynn Obleton also tried a squeeze play and reached, but the Beavers defense kept Heidelbauer from scoring. That did not matter in the end as Alexis Ehlers ripped a two-run double into left field to give the Storm a 2-1 lead.

Ashlyn Steen continued the small ball, reaching on a bunt to load the bases. The Beavers got an out, but Cameron Martin delivered a bases-clearing double to give the Storm a 5-1 advantage, shocking the Beavers after the Storm had only one hit through the first four innings.

Heidelbauer was the recipient of another Hill hit the following inning, this time scoring to give the Storm an insurance run in the sixth inning. Barrick-Wessels and the Simpson defense disposed of the Beavers for the final six outs, giving the Storm a comfortable victory in the end.

Barrick-Wessels tied her career-high with nine strikeouts, allowing just five hits. Steen recorded three hits and Hill had two hits, the only Storm players with multiple hits. However, Martin (three) and Ehlers (two) had multiple RBIs on their lone hits of the game.

Game Two: Buena Vista 4, Simpson 2

The Storm finally started hot in the first inning, with Ehlers smacking a leadoff solo shot down the left field line to give the Storm a 1-0 lead. The Storm added a run in the second with a sac fly from Obleton.

The Beavers responded with a hit to make it 2-1, but the Storm got out of the inning after Maddie Luderman picked off a runner. Despite the Storm defense making plays to keep the lead, the Beavers drew three walks and recorded a single in the bottom of the third, tying the game before taking a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly.

The Storm threatened in the top of the fifth, with Martin hitting a two-out single. Heidelbauer then launched a double, appearing to score Caroline Pellett, who was pinch-running for Martin. However, Pellett was called out for leaving early, halting the Storm's momentum.

The Storm had a runner on base in each of the last two innings, but the Beavers stifled the Storm offense in game two, with Simpson leaving eight runners on base in game two. The Storm outhit the Beavers over the two games by a 12-8 margin, committing only two errors on the day. Barrick-Wessels earned the win for game one, improving her record to 9-5 on the season. Makayla Bryant also pitched 3.2 innings in game two, not allowing a hit or an earned run.

Up Next

The Storm will host Loras on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. The Storm will also hold Senior Day activities before the second game of the doubleheader.