Storm Softball wins close games against Grace U

Storm Softball traveled to Omaha to take on the Grace University Royals in a doubleheader on Friday, April 22.

The game was arranged after Browne Mackie cancelled its doubleheader because of injuries that left them shorthanded.

Game 1 had Lauren Rivers take the mound pitching six innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks, earning her second win of the season.

Rivers pitched out of trouble in the first, third and sixth innings before handing the ball to Megan Hartman, who earned her third save of the season by striking out all three batters she faced in the seventh inning.

The Storm had seven hits and scored two runs in the fourth and held on to win 2-1.

Morgan Houseman had her strongest game behind the plate, throwing out one runner attempting to steal and taking a strong throw from Ashten Vater in deep left field to tag out a runner trying to score from third.

Game two had Hartman take the mound and, with the Storm bats coming alive, took an 8-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, when the Royals had four straight hits and an error, making the score to 8-7.

Hartman got the next batter to fly to left field, struck out the next batter and finished the game by getting the final out on a fly ball to center field.

Hartman earned her thirteenth win of the season, allowing nine hits, walking two and striking out nine.

The Storm had 13 hits for the game, led by Megan Hartman with two, including her first triple of her career. Savannah Grabowski, Alexis Graewe and Sarah Haake each had two hits, and Brooke Brestel continued to rip the hide off the ball with four hits in the game.

The Storm traveled to Cloud Community College on Sunday for games at noon and two to end the regular season (story to be forthcoming).

The team will next travel to Columbus for the Region IX Tournament on Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30.