No. 12 Storm rally and roll past Coe for doubleheader sweep

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Coming back down four in the opener to a complete game gem from Marina Cronin, 12th-ranked Simpson swept Coe 8-6 and 5-1 on Sunday.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Simpson jumped on the board in the first, capitalizing on an error by Coe to score Ashlyn Steen for a quick 1-0 lead.
• Coe tied up the game in the second on a solo shot to left and in the third, struck with a grand slam to open up a 5-1 lead..
• Brielyn Ginnaty began the comeback attempt with a solo home run to center to start the fourth.
• Megan Heidelbauer added to the fourth inning with a two-run RBI to center, cutting the Kohawk lead down to 5-4.
• Simpson tied up the ballgame with a double steal, leading to Katie Shaner scoring on the play. Later in the inning, Gracie Bruening put the Storm back on top with a two-run home run.
• Ashlyn Steen added another insurance run later in the fifth with a double to center, scoring Caelynn Obleton to make it an 8-5 game.
• Coe managed to load the bases with nobody out to begin the seventh but a shallow fly out and a groundout only allowed one to score with two outs. Marina Cronin put the comeback bid to an end with a strikeout, leaving the tying-run on second.

GAME ONE LEADERS

Ashlyn Steen - 3-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB
Gracie Bruening - 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Brielyn Ginnaty - 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Alyssa Breckner - 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• The Storm quickly jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead with a run on an error followed by an RBI double from Ginnaty.
• Both offenses were held in check until the fifth with Simpson scoring once on a Heidelbauer single, with Coe adding one back in the bottom of the frame.
• In the seventh, Steen added an insurance run with a solo home run to left center. Ginnaty added one final run later in the inning on a single up the middle to stretch Simpson's lead to 5-1.
• Marina Cronin, who got the start in the circle, finished off her one-run complete game and earned the win after allowing just four hits with seven strikeouts.
• With her third hit of the day, Katie Shaner collected her milestone 100-career hit, joining current players Steen, Heidelbauer, Caelynn Obleton, and Mackenzie James.

GAME TWO LEADERS

Ashlyn Steen - 3-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB
Caelynn Obleton - 3-for-4, 3 1B
Gracie Bruening - 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Marina Cronin - 7 IP, W, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 7 K

UP NEXT

Simpson returns home to host Dubuque in the A-R-C home opener on Tuesday, April, 7 with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.