Simpson moves up to No. 6/10 in national rankings

INDIANOLA, Iowa - For the first time this season, Simpson earned top-10 in both the NCAA NPI rankings and the NFCA/GoRout Top 25 Coaches Poll, earning sixth and tenth respectively on Tuesday.

Simpson completed the A-R-C schedule with a pair of wins over Buena Vista and Nebraska Wesleyan at home last week, improving to 30-5 on the season, and 13-3 in conference play. The 30th win marked the first time since 2015-16 that Simpson has earned 30 or more wins in back-to-back seasons.

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 leaped over Saint Mary's for the top spot in the region in the NPI ranking, jumping up one spot from seven to six, along with earning a top-10 spot in the NFCA Coaches Poll. The Storm led the trio of A-R-C schools ranked in the top-50 of the NPI with Wartburg at 14 and Central at 46, with Loras just outside at 52.

Leading the offense for Simpson has been two-time All-American Ashlyn Steen. Steen currently leads the conference in batting average (.543), on-base (.626), slugging (.895), runs scored (56), hits (57), triples (8), and stolen bases (39). Cleaning up behind Steen in the order has been the trio of Megan Heidelbauer, Mackenzie James, and Katie Shaner. The three have combined for 118 RBIs, 89 runs scored, and 56 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 26-4 on the season with 17 complete games, and 163 strikeouts over 180.2 innings of work.

Simpson closes out the regular season with a doubleheader on the road against Augustana on Sunday, May 3 at 1:00 p.m.