Storm finish 2023 campaign with doubleheader split at Dubuque

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Simpson College softball team finished its 2023 campaign by taking game two of a doubleheader at Dubuque.

The big highlight of the day came in game two, with Maddie Luderman's double to right field scoring Alexis Ehlers. The hit gave her 45 RBIs on the campaign, tying the single season record for the Storm (23-17, 4-12 A-R-C).

Game One: Dubuque 4, Simpson 3

The first game lacked offense early, with the Storm stranding at least one baserunners in each of the first four innings. The Storm also created two double plays in each of the first two innings, but the Spartans (12-18, 5-11 A-R-C) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with an RBI single.

The Storm finally opened up the offense in the top of the sith. With Megan Heidelbauer and Rylee Purvis on base, Kate Kriegel doubled to left center to drive in Purvis to tie the game. Ava Lowden delivered the Storm its first lead of the day with two outs, as her single through the right side of the infield scored both Heidelbauer and Kriegel.

However, the Spartans rallied in the seventh inning, knocking three straight singles to load the bases. The Storm struck out the next batter, but a bases-clearing double walked it off for the Spartans, giving them a 4-3 victory.

Heidelbauer and Ashlyn Steen had two hits in game one, while Lowden recorded two RBIs. The Storm also left eight on base, with Dubuque collecting 10 hits to the Storm's 9.

Game Two: Simpson 7, Dubuque 4

The Storm took advantage of an early opportunity in game two, plating four in the second inning. Lowden opened up the scoring with another RBI hit, a double that scored Kriegel from first base. Lowden scored herself after Caelynn Obleton singled, with Ehlers bringing her home with a double down the left field line. Then Luderman stepped up, as she etched her name into the Simpson history books with an RBI double to score Ehlers and give the Storm a 4-1 lead.

The Storm made it a 5-1 game, as Purvis scored off an error, but the Spartans struck back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to one.

Kylee Tucker sealed the win for the Storm on both offense and pitching in the seventh inning. Tucker's double in the top of the seventh scored Heidelbauer and Blair Bowman and then the Indianola native retired three of the four batters she faced in the bottom of the inning to earn her second save of the season.

The Storm pitching staff struck out eight total Dubuque batters in game two. The Storm offense also recorded 14 hits to Dubuque's eight. Five Storm players collected three hits over the two games, as the team wrapped up its 2022-23 campaign.