Back-to-back shutouts fuels No. 10/11 Simpson softball in wins over UD

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Two complete game shutouts from Marina Cronin and Emma LaFave powered No. 10/11 Simpson to a doubleheader sweep over Dubuque on Tuesday afternoon.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Simpson quickly jumped on the board, opening the game with a six-run first inning. A Katie Shaner bunt to the pitcher scored the first two runs of the frame.
• A bases-loaded hit by pitch to Gracie Bruening, followed by an RBI single from Caelynn Obleton and an RBI groundout by Brynn Ortlund capped off the loud start for Simpson.
• The Storm added another two runs in the second from a sac fly from Addison Gookin and an RBI single by Brielyn Ginnaty extended the lead to 7-0.
• Ginnaty struck again in the fourth, giving the Storm the final two runs of the game on a home run to dead center, her second of the season.
• Marina Cronin received all the run support she needed as the sophomore fired off a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits, no walks, and two strikeouts.

GAME ONE LEADERS

Marina Cronin - 5 IP, W, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Brielyn Ginnaty - 3-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Megan Heidelbauer - 2-for-2, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 BB

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• After a quiet first two innings, Simpson erupted for six runs in the third to break open the scoring.
• Ashlyn Steen got the scoring going with an RBI single up the middle, followed by the second home run of the season for Heidelbauer.
• Gookin tripled to the right center gap, scoring Shaner later in the inning, setting up Ginnaty for her second home run of the day and third of the season to put Simpson up 6-0.
• Steen put the game out of reach with her third long ball of the year, this one a two-run home run to left center off the top of the wall to make it 8-0 Simpson in the fourth.
• Emma LaFave silenced the Spartans' bats all day long, going five full innings, giving up only two hits with three walks, and four strikeouts.

GAME TWO LEADERS

Emma LaFave - 5 IP, W, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Ashlyn Steen - 2-for-2, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB, 1 BB
Megan Heidelbauer - 2-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Brielyn Ginnaty - 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R

UP NEXT

Simpson hits the road for a doubleheader in Pella against the Dutch starting Thursday, April 16 at 2:00 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was pushed back one day due to weather.