Storm split doubleheader against Dubuque in A-R-C Opener

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Taking on Dubuque in their A-R-C opener, the Simpson softball team fell 5-4 in the first game before rallying back with a 10-2 rout to split the day.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Simpson jumped on the board early, scoring two in the first inning off a two-RBI double to left center from Shaner, scoring both Heidelbauer and James.
• Dubuque responded in the bottom of the first with a run and then in the third, scored two more on a double to claim a 3-2 lead.
• After the Spartans added one more insurance run in the fourth, Simpson struggled to find offense until the seventh.
• Two quick outs put Simpson in a hole in the seventh, but the Storm found life with a triple from Obleton. Kriegel followed up with a single to score Obleton and cut the score to 4-3.
• Kriegel then stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, and the move paid off as Steen singled up the middle to drive in the tying run and send the game to the bottom of the seventh tied.
• However, Dubuque rallied with their own two-out clutch hitting, hitting a double down the left field line, scoring the runner from second to secure the 5-4 win.

GAME ONE LEADERS

Megan Heidelbauer - 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R
Katie Shaner - 1-for-3, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Kate Kriegel - 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Ehlers got Simpson on the board first with an RBI single, scoring Steen in the top of the first.
• James added to the lead in the first with her two-RBI double to left center, scoring both Heidelbauer and Ehlers to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
• Dubuque scored their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the first in RBI singles to the outfield.
• Simpson proceeded to score eight unanswered runs starting in the second inning. Heidelbauer delivered another RBI double, and later scored on a sac-fly from James.
• In the fourth, an RBI triple from Steen kicked-off the four-run inning. Heidelbauer drove in another run on an RBI single, and accounted for the third run after she successfully stole home. Shaner's RBI double capped off the inning.
• Heidelbauer struck for her fourth hit and third RBI of the game in the fifth, singling to left to make it a 10-2 ballgame.
• LaFave went the full five innings, allowing just two runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts.

GAME TWO LEADERS

Megan Heidelbauer - 4-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 SB
Ashlyn Steen - 2-for-2, 4 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 3B, 1 SB
Alexis Ehlers - 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI
Emma LaFave - 5 IP, W, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

UP NEXT

Simpson returns home for the first time in 2025, hosting Grinnell on Friday, March 28 with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m.