Storm split first conference road games with Duhawks

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Simpson College softball team saw its win streak snapped in game one, but responded in dominating fashion to defeat Loras in game two and earn a split of the team's first conference road doubleheader.

The Storm (24-6, 6-1 A-R-C) exploded in the third inning of game two, putting up six runs. Alexis Ehlers hit her team-leading sixth home run of the year in the inning, while Taryan Barrick-Wessels was spectacular in the circle once again, earning her seventh straight pitching win.

GAME ONE: Loras 6, Simpson 1

• The Duhawks (15-11, 2-4 A-R-C) jumped in front by virtue of a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the first.
• Simpson got on the board in the top of the third, with Ehlers sending a double to right-center field that scored Caelynn Obleton.
• Loras answered immediately and tacked on another three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead.
• The Duhawks were able to hold off the Storm offense, as starting pitcher Ashlyn Hemm allowed just four hits in the game.

GAME ONE LEADERS

• Caelynn Obleton: 2-for-3, 2B, SB, run
• Alexis Ehlers: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, SB
• Maddie Luderman: 3 BB
• Kylee Tucker: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

GAME TWO: Simpson 9, Loras 0 (5 innings)

• Game two was a complete opposite start for the Storm, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after a sacrifice fly from Ehlers and an error that allowed Maddie Luderman to score.
• The Storm poured it on in the third inning, started by Ehlers blasting her sixth home run of the year to give Simpson a 4-0 lead.
• Simpson then scored their next five runs with two outs, highlighted by two-run doubles from Kate Kriegel and Megan Heidelbauer.
• Barrick-Wessels threw four innings of shutout ball, while Sierra Franklin capped off the game with a scoreless fifth inning.

GAME TWO LEADERS

• Alexis Ehlers: 1-for-2, HR, 3 RBI, run
• Megan Heidelbauer: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B, SB, run
• Ashlyn Steen: 2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI, SB
• Kate Kriegel: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2B
• Caelynn Obleton: 1-for-3, run
• Katie Shaner: 1-for-3, RBI, run
• Maddie Luderman: 1-for-1, 2 BB, run
• Taryan Barrick Wessels: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

NOTABLE

• The Storm are now 63-16 all-time against the Duhawks.
• Caelynn Obleton extended her hit streak to 15 games.
• Taryan Barrick-Wessels earned her ninth pitching win of the year, tying her career-best in a season.
• The senior ranks second in the conference in ERA with a brilliant 0.95.
• Maddie Luderman, who set the all-time record for walks in program history on Tuesday, walked five times across the two games.

RECORD WATCH

• Alexis Ehlers now has 38 RBIs on the season, seven away from tying the single-season record.
• Ehlers also has 16 doubles on the year, just two away from tying the single-season mark.
• Maddie Luderman remains one home run away from tying the all-time program lead of 31.

UP NEXT
The Storm remain on the road to face off with Wartburg on Saturday.