Simpson moves one win away from World Series berth

WINONA, Minn. - Fueled by three home runs from Megan Heidelbauer, Addison Gookin and Brielyn Ginnaty, Simpson chipped away at Saint Mary's to win the Super Regional opener 8-3 on Thursday.

Simpson (38-6) put up a run in every frame, never giving Saint Mary's (40-8) a chance to build momentum in the first of a best-of-three series. Ashlyn Steen and Heidelbauer set the tone at the top of the order, combining for six hits, five runs scored, and two RBIs. The trio of Heidelbauer, Gookin, and Ginnaty went deep throughout the game as Simpson as a whole collected 14 hits.

With the win, Simpson now needs one win tomorrow to punch its ticket to the 2026 Women's College World Series.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• A lead-off single from Steen and a double roped down the left field line by Heidelbauer put early pressure on Saint Mary's.
• After a seven pitch at-bat, Mackenzie James won the battle, nearly driving a ball out to deep left center, clearing the bases with a two-RBI double to put Simpson up 2-0 after one.
• Brynn Ortlund led off the second with an infield single and advanced to second on a productive out from Makayla Fowler. Steen capitalized on the opportunity, scoring Simpson's third run of the game on a single to center.
• Saint Mary's tacked on its first run of the game in the top of the third on a single, sac bunt, followed by another single and a fielder's choice.
• Addison Gookin responded right back in the bottom half of the frame with a solo shot, driving her sixth home run of the year to right field to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
• Emma LaFave worked out of a jam in the fourth with runners on second and third with one out. LaFave escaped with a soft groundout to first, followed by a fly out to keep Saint Mary's at one run.
• Simpson continued to put pressure on the Saint Mary's pitching staff in the fourth. Heidelbauer crushed her team-leading ninth home run, a two-out solo shot, to make it a 5-1 score.
• The power bats of the Storm continued to flex its muscle as Brielyn Ginnaty connected on a solo shot in the sixth, her eighth of the year, to stretch the lead to 6-1.
• Saint Mary's poised its biggest threat in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out to chase LaFave from the game, bringing in Marina Cronin. Cronin navigated her way through the jam with a sac fly, single, pop up, and a fly out, allowing two runs but preserving the Storm lead at 6-3.
• The top of the Storm order continued to wreck havoc as Steen and Heidelbauer reached and scored on a two-out single from Katie Shaner to ice the 8-3 win.

GAME LEADERS

• Megan Heidelbauer - 3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 2B, 3 R, 1 RBI
• Ashlyn Steen - 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B
• Mackenzie James - 2-for-4. 2 RBI, 1 2B
• Addison Gookin - 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Brielyn Ginnaty - 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

UP NEXT
Simpson now sits one win away from a trip to the Women's College World Series. The Storm and the Cardinals will face off tomorrow, May 22 at 1 p.m. with an if-necessary game right after.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE