Softball clinches share of A-R-C regular season title
INDIANOLA, Iowa – For the first time since 2010, the Simpson softball team is the American Rivers Conference champion.
With Nebraska Wesleyan's loss to Central on Tuesday, the Storm have secured at least a share of the conference championship, making it the eighth championship in program history.
The 2025 campaign for the Storm has been one for the record books. So far on the season, Simpson has set the school record for most home runs (45) and runs driven in (246) in a single season, while the team batting average of .350 would also be a top mark.
Simpson enters the day leading the conference in a multitude of categories including home runs, runs scored, doubles, total bases, on-base percentage, and slugging.
Not only have the Storm been a force at the plate but also feature the second lowest ERA in the conference with a 2.55 mark. Their 85-earned runs allowed is the second lowest in the conference while also giving up only 35 extra base hits all season, with second lowest in the A-R-C being Nebraska Wesleyan at 53.
Simpson began the season with two wins in February before taking The Spring Games by storm. Down in Clermont, Florida, Simpson went 13-1 featuring four wins by eight or more runs and highlighted by a 6-5 win over then 16th-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
After Florida, Simpson went into conference action, where the Storm finished with an 11-5 record. The highlight of the conference action being statement wins over Central at home where Simpson outscored the Dutch 29-6 over the two games, mashing nine home runs, including back-to-back-to-back jacks. Simpson took the season series against Central, Loras, Luther, and Buena Vista, while splitting with Wartburg, Dubuque, and Nebraska Wesleyan.
The longest win streak for the Storm came in Florida at 10 straight wins, and Simpson has eclipsed the five-win streak mark on four different occasions.
On the year, Simpson is led by first baseman Megan Heidelbauer, who enters the week with a .520/.574/1.056 slash line with 15 home runs, and 62 RBIs. Ashlyn Steen and Alexis Ehlers make up the top of the order that has proven to be one of the most lethal 1-2-3 top of the orders in all the country this season. The trio have produced a combined 28 home runs, 123 RBIs, 134 runs scored, and 68 extra base hits.
Inside the circle, Emma LaFave has commanded the top spot in the rotation with a 10-1 record over 16 games with 70.2 innings pitched, and a team-high 56 strikeouts. Kylee Tucker, Marina Cronin, and Alyssa Breckner have combined to create one of the top pitching staffs in the conference, sporting a team ERA of 2.55, second best in the league.
Three times the Storm have been honored by the American Rivers Conference with Player of the Week awards. Beginning with Megan Heidelbauer on March 24, followed by Katie Shaner on April 14, and Ashlyn Steen on April 21.
Simpson plays one final regular season game in 2025, traveling to Cornell on Sunday, May 4.
