Storm advance to A-R-C semifinals after dramatic win over Prairie Wolves

PELLA, Iowa - The Simpson College softball team advanced to the American Rivers Conference Tournament semifinals with a dramatic win in nine innings over Nebraska Wesleyan.

A defensive battle for much of the game, Kate Kriegel's two-out single put the Storm (27-12, 9-7 A-R-C) up early. However, the Prairie Wolves (26-11, 9-6 A-R-C) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh while down to their last strike twice. In the top of the ninth, Maddie Luderman's well hit ball that careened off the glove of a Nebraska Wesleyan outfielder proved to be the difference, scoring two runs to eventually give Simpson a 3-1 run and a date with rival and top-seeded Central in the semifinals.

"We played an exciting game with great pitching and defense," said Storm head coach Brent Matthias. "Our two fifth-year seniors came up big, with Taryan doing a super job pitching and Maddie coming up with a clutch at-bat in extras that scored two runs. We survived and advanced to play the No. 1 seed and we are excited for another opportunity to play ball!"

SIMPSON 3, NEBRASKA WESLEYAN 1 (9 INNINGS)

• The Storm were the ones to open the scoring in the top of the first. Creating an affinity for clutch two-out hits, Kriegel singled up the middle to score Ashlyn Steen.
• Taryan Barrick-Wessels then pitched around a jam in the bottom of the first, striking out one batter before the Storm defense picked off a baserunner attempting to steal.
• Both defenses locked in over the next few innings, but the Prairie Wolves again threatened in the bottom of the fourth, but a massive strikeout from Barrick-Wessels kept the score at 1-0.
• Barrick-Wessels worked her magic again in the bottom of the sixth, getting out of a one-out jam with a runner on third with a groundout and strikeout.
• Simpson preserved the 1-0 lead going into the seventh, but Nebraska Wesleyan tied the game at one after being down to its final strike.
• The Prairie Wolves got out of a jam in the eighth, but a well-timed Storm double play took the game into the ninth.
• After singles from Katie Shaner and Megan Heidelbauer, Luderman drove a ball to right field that hit off the glove of the right fielder for Nebraska Wesleyan, giving Simpson a 3-1 lead.
• Barrick-Wessels stayed in the game and this time retired the side with much less drama, striking out the final batter following a great running catch by Steen for the first out.

SIMPSON LEADERS

• Katie Shaner: 2-for-4
• Kate Kriegel: 1-for-3, RBI
• Ashlyn Steen: 1-for-3, SB, run
• Megan Heidelbauer: 1-for-4, SB, run
• Taryan Barrick-Wessels: 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, win

NOTABLE

• Simpson has reached the conference tournament semifinals for the first time since 2019.
• Simpson has now won four straight against Nebraska Wesleyan, winning the season series 3-0.
• The Storm are now 20-2 on the year when committing zero or one error in a game.
• The two teams combined for 13 hits in the game, but all were singles.
• The Storm pitching staff surrendered just one run in 21 total innings of play against the Prairie Wolves on the year.

UP NEXT
Simpson will face off with Central tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. in the semifinals. The winner will advance to the title game, currently scheduled for approximately 5 p.m.