Storm erupt for 26 runs in sweep over Buena Vista; improve to 23-3 on the season

STORM LAKE, Iowa - The top offense in the A-R-C flexed their muscles at the plate, scoring a combined 26 runs on 35 hits as Simpson routed Buena Vista 9-1 and 17-8 to improve to 23-3 on the season.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Heidelbauer struck quickly with an RBI triple in the first to score Steen and put Simpson on the board first. Shaner added to the first inning offense with a two run home run to make it 3-0.
• After BVU added their lone run of the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first, the Storm pulled away with help from the long ball.
• Bruening connected for a solo shot in the second, followed by Ehlers adding her own solo shot in the third.
• Bruening continued to provide the offense, scoring another run in the third on an RBI single to make it 6-1.
• In the fourth, Heidelbauer went deep for the tenth time this season, a two run shot to extend the lead to 8-1.
• Simpson's final run came from Kriegel, who drove in Obleton to cap off the 9-1 win on the road.
• LaFave got the start, going the full five innings to earn her seventh win of the season, allowing six hits but just one run on two walks with seven strikeouts.

GAME ONE LEADERS

Megan Heidelbauer - 2-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 3B
Katie Shaner - 2-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Gracie Bruening - 2-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Emma LaFave - 5 IP, W, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Heidelbauer and James got the offense going early with RBI singles in the first to put Simpson up 2-0.
• Buena Vista responded with three of their own in the bottom of the first to gain their first lead of the day.
• Kriegel entered the game one hit away from the 100-career hit milestone and the second baseman reached it in style, driving in two on a double to put Simpson back on top 4-3 in the second inning.
• BVU tied the game again in the bottom of the second before a solo shot by Shaner gave Simpson a 5-4 lead in the third.
• The Beavers struck again in the fourth, reclaiming the lead on a bases-clearing triple to make it 7-5 heading into the late stages of the ballgame.
• The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair as the Storm mounted a two-out rally in the fifth. With two runners in scoring position, Kriegel drove a pitch to deep left for RBIs three, four, and five to put Simpson on top 8-7.
• The rally continued as Steen doubled in the following at-bat and scored as Heidelbauer lifted a single to center to give Simpson a 9-7 edge.
• After Buena Vista added one in the bottom of the fifth, the Storm shut down the rally with a strikeout leaving two runners stranded.
• The runs continued to pour in the sixth as Simpson added six more on RBI hits from Peterson, Obleton, Kriegel, and Heidelbauer to seal the 17-8 victory.
• Heidelbauer's final RBI marked her seventh of the day, putting her at 45 RBI on the season, which tied the school record for most RBIs in a single season with Maddie Luderman's 45 in 2023.

GAME TWO LEADERS

Kate Kriegel - 3-for-4, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, 1 2B, Surpassed the 100-career hit mark
Megan Heidelbauer - 3-for-5, 4 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B, Tied the school record for most RBIs in a single season with 45
Bailey Petersen - 4-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 2B
Ashlyn Steen - 3-for-5, 3 R, 2 2B
Katie Shaner - 4-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R

UP NEXT

Simpson returns home for a key doubleheader against Central on Monday, April 14 starting at 4:00 p.m.