Knights thwart Storm in conference play

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson College softball team succumbed to Wartburg in the final two home games of 2023 on Wednesday afternoon.

The Knights (19-15, 9-5 A-R-C) used a strong pitching performance in game one and held off a late Storm (22-16, 3-11 A-R-C) rally in game two. Alexis Ehlers recorded three hits, three RBIs, and a two-run home run in game two to highlight the Storm offensively.

Game One: Wartburg 5, Simpson 0

Game one was littered with early baserunners without any runs, the only difference being Wartburg was getting on base via singles and Simpson via walks. That changed in the top of the third, with two straight singles for Wartburg, albeit the leadoff batter was eventually thrown out stealing. After a sacrifice bunt, Wartburg's Reegan Deputy hit a two-run homer to break the game open.

Despite Simpson drawing early walks and reaching on an error, the Storm could not capitalize and Wartburg's pitcher Ashley Nelson started to settle in, retiring the next eight Storm batters and not allowing a hit until the sixth inning.

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth, Wartburg hit a bases-clearing double to take a 5-0 lead into the sixth.

Zoe Baker broke the no-hitter in the sixth, added by a single by Payton Ganzer in the seventh, but the Storm succumbed to the Knights by a score of 5-0.

The Storm left six runners on base, while the Knights recorded 13 hits combined with a terrific pitching performance from Nelson.

Game Two: Wartburg 9, Simpson 8

The Knights capitalized early in game two, executing a double steal of second and home to take a 1-0 lead. The Knights doubled their advantage after a runner stole third, with Luderman's throw possibly hitting her or the glove of Ehlers and bouncing away, allowing the runner to score.

Ehlers made up for that in the bottom of the third, launching a two-run homer to tie the game at two a piece. Wartburg responded in the top of the fourth though, hitting another two-run home run to bring the advantage back to 4-2.

The Storm attempted to respond to the second Wartburg home run in the next half inning, but left runners on second and third with one out with two groundouts. The Knights jumped on the missed opportunity, taking advantage of bunts before hitting a grand slam with two outs to extend the lead to 8-2.

The Storm rallied in the bottom of the fifth, drawing three walks and an error off a new Wartburg pitcher that forced another change. After a hit by pitch to make it 8-4, a fielder's choice with a missed tag on Abby Meyer made it 8-5. The bases were still loaded with zero outs, but Nelson came back in to draw two popups and a strikeout to end the rally.

The teams traded runs in the sixth, with Simpson's coming from a single to center field from Ehlers, making it 9-6 as the game headed to the bottom of the seventh. Simpson got two base runners and were down to their last strike before Caelynn Obleton ripped a two-run double to center field to bring the Storm within one run. Ashlyn Steen was up next, hitting a ball to the third baseman, who bobbled it but was able to tag Obleton to end the game.

Up Next

The Storm conclude the regular season with a pair of games at Dubuque on Saturday.