Simpson softball thunders past Buena Vista for two wins

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Outscoring Buena Vista 30-to-1, No. 7/11 Simpson softball thundered past the Beavers while only allowing three hits on the day to improve to 28-5.

Behind a pair of near perfect outings from starters Emma LaFave and Marina Cronin, Simpson provided plenty of offense to rout the Beavers 12-1 and 18-0 on Tuesday. Ashlyn Steen made history on the basepaths, swiping five more bases and breaking the single season record for most steals, now sitting at 38 on the year.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Caelynn Obleton kicked off the scoring in the second with an RBI double to left center, scoring Addison Gookin.
• Later in the inning, Megan Heidelbauer cleared the bases with a single in the gap, pushing the Storm lead to 4-0.
• Simpson put the game out of reach in the third with a seven-run frame. RBI at-bats from Heidelbauer and Mackenzie James, followed by a bases-clearing double from Katie Shaner that missed by an inch of clearing the wall to make it 11-0.
• Gracie Bruening finished off the scoring with an RBI double down the left field line in the fourth as Simpson rolled to a 12-1 result.
• Emma LaFave earned the win, pitching four clean innings, and only giving up her lone hit with two outs in the fourth.

GAME ONE LEADERS

Megan Heidelbauer - 2-for-4, 4 RBI, 1 R
Katie Shaner - 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 2B
Emma LaFave - 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Once again, Simpson struck with two big offensive innings, this time a seven-run outing in the second, and eight more in the third.
• Bruening's RBI double and Brynn Ortlund's triple quickly made it a 3-0 ballgame. Later in the inning, Heidelbauer and Shaner connected on a pair of two-run home runs to stretch the lead to 7-0.
• Making up the eight-run third was Obleton driving in two to start, followed by RBI hits from Steen, James, Shaner, Ginnaty, and finally Bruening.
• Simpson continued to pile on in the fourth, scoring three more runs with RBIs going to Lauren Ellwanger and Cheyenne Jones to finish off the 18-0 win.
• Marina Cronin matched LaFave's line, going four shutout innings while only allowing one hit with zero walks and seven punchouts.

GAME TWO LEADERS

Ashlyn Steen - 2-for-3, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4 SB (Broke the school record for most SB in a single season)
Megan Heidelbauer - 3-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B
Katie Shaner - 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B
Marina Cronin - 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K

UP NEXT

Simpson hosts the final regular season doubleheader on Saturday, April 25 with a matchup against Nebraska Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m.