Storm take down DePauw; set up rematch with Saint Mary's in regional final

WINONA, Minn. - For the second time in as many days, the Simpson softball team knocked off 8-3 DePauw in the NCAA regional to set up a matchup with Saint Mary's in the championship round.

Simpson quickly jumped on board and put the pressure on DePauw in a win-or-go-home matchup with a spot in the NCAA regional final on the line. Clutch home runs from Makalya Fowler and Katie Shaner, along with a two-RBI game from Megan Heidelbauer supplied the Storm with everything needed to knock off DePauw. Emma LaFave went five innings before Alyssa Breckner and Kylee Tucker pitched clean innings out of the pen to seal the game.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Simpson wasted no time getting the bats going in the rematch, using a first inning Heidelbauer sac fly to score Steen and take a 1-0 lead.
• DePauw responded right back with an RBI infield single in the bottom of the first to tie up the game at 1-1.
• Heidelbauer once again delivered a run for the Storm, this time in the third inning with a single through the right side to score Obleton for a 2-1 lead.
• In the fourth, Simpson broke open the lead with the long ball, starting with a solo shot from Shaner. Later in the inning, Fowler added to the lead with a two-run blast, scoring Fisk and putting Simpson up 5-1.
• DePauw immediately countered with a two-run home run of their own, cutting the lead in the half after four.
• The Storm added to the lead in the fifth with a sac fly RBI from Ehlers, scoring Steen to make it a 6-3 ballgame.
• In the seventh, Simpson tacked on two more insurance runs after an error by DePauw, followed by a sac bunt to open up a five-run lead. The Storm slammed the door shut in the seventh to advance in the NCAA regional.

LEADERS

Megan Heidelbauer - 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Makayla Fowler - 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Katie Shaner - 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Ashlyn Steen - 2-for-2, 3 R, 1 2B

UP NEXT

Simpson moves on to the regional final with a rematch against No. 7 Saint Mary's on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. The Storm will need to win two games in order to advance to the NCAA Super Regional next weekend.