Storm shut out Prairie Wolves for two wins on Senior Day

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Behind back-to-back 4-0 shutouts, No. 7/11 Simpson swept Nebraska Wesleyan to close out conference regular season play on Saturday.

On the year, Simpson improved to 30-5 overall, and finished conference with a 13-3 record. The Storm finished last year with 34 wins, marking the first time since 2015 and 2016 Simpson accrued 30 or more wins in back-to-back seasons. The Storm also finished with a perfect 10-0 record at home in the regular season.

With the Storm's two shutouts on the day, Simpson has now held opposing offenses to zero runs over the last 19 innings, and has allowed only three runs over their last five games.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Ashlyn Steen started off the game with a single and stolen base and eventually scored on a Mackenzie James sac-fly to put the Storm up 1-0 in the first.
• In the third, for Steen's next AB, the senior connected on her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right to double the lead.
• Addison Gookin continued to add to the lead in the third with an RBI single to center, scoring Megan Heidelbauer and make it a 3-0 ballgame.
• The final touch came in the fourth when a throwing error to first allowed Brynn Ortlund to score from second.
• Senior Emma LaFave needed only one run as the righty limited the Prairie Wolves' bats to just two hits with one strikeout.

GAME ONE LEADERS

Ashlyn Steen - 2-for-3, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB
Katie Shaner - 2-for-3, 2 1B
Emma LaFave - 7 IP, W, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Brynn Ortlund got the Storm on the board in the third with a bunt single then proceeded to get the Prairie Wolves' attention on the basepaths, allowing Caelynn Obleton to score.
• Katie Shaner provided some more power with a home run to deep center and extending the Storm lead to 2-0 in the fourth.
• Senior Savana Walls delivered a clutch sac-fly in the sixth to bring home Shaner before a Gracie Bruening single to left plated Gookin to double the Storm lead to 4-0.
• Marina Cronin put together one of her best outings of the year, going the distance and allowing no runs on five hits, zero walks, and six strikeouts.

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 - 7 IP, W, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

UP NEXT

Simpson travels to Augustana in Illinois for a final doubleheader of the season on Sunday, May 3 with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.