Simpson softball ranked 10/11 in latest national polls

INDIANOLA, Iowa - In the opening edition of the NCAA NPI rankings, Simpson placed 10th nationall, and came in at 11th in the latest NFCA/GoRout Top 25 Coaches Poll on Tuesday.

Simpson improved to 21-4 last weekend with a sweep over Luther and sit second in the conference at 4-2. The 11th overall ranking in the NFCA poll is the highest Simpson has been ranked all season.

The NPI is a computer model used to determine seeding and at-large bids to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship tournament. The tournament will include 62 teams including 41 automatic Pool A bids, one Pool B bid and 20 at-large Pool C bids. At-large selections will be awarded to the 20 highest ranked teams, according to the NPI, remaining following the Pool A and B selections.

Simpson held on as the second ranked team in the region in the NPI ranking, coming in just behind Saint Mary's (Minn.) who sits at 6. The Storm lead the pack of three A-R-C schools who ranked in the top-50 including Wartburg (20), and Central (25), with Loras just outside at 53.

Leading the offense for Simpson has been two-time All-American Ashlyn Steen with a blistering .512 batting average with three home runs, 18 RBIs, and a staggering 26 stolen bases. Cleaning up behind Steen in the order has been the trio of Megan Heidelbauer, Mackenzie James, and Katie Shaner. The three have combined for 75 RBIs, 59 runs scored, and 39 extra base hits. In the circle, two-time A-R-C Pitcher of the Week Marina Cronin and senior Emma LaFave have formed a lethal 1-2 punch. The duo is 17-3 on the season with 10 complete games, and 120 strikeouts over 131.2 innings of work.

The Storm host Dubuque today, Tuesday, April 14 for a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. before heading to Central on Wednesday and finally Loras on Saturday to conclude the six-game week slate.