DECORAH, Iowa-- The Wartburg softball team's season came to an end in the Iowa Conference Tournament semifinal game as Simpson won 4-2 on a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.

The Knights were the six seed and the Storm were the second seed.

The game was scoreless until the third when Simpson took the 1-0 lead on an RBI double to right field. The Storm doubled their margin in the fifth on a solo home run.

The Orange and Black evened the game in the sixth as sophomore Erica Countryman (Plainfield, Ill.) scored on freshman Tori Brandon's (Cedar Rapids) single. Sophomore Sarah Grabowski (Plainfield, Ill.) who pinch ran for Brandon, scored as the next batter, classmate Hannah Blaske's (Bettendorf) single.

Simpson looked to win in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the seventh as it had runners on the corners with two outs. However, the next batter flew out to centerfield which sent the game to extra innings.

Wartburg was not able to advance past first base in the eighth inning and after sophomore Kristie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) stole second with two outs in the top of the ninth, the next batter struck out to give the Storm another chance, which they capitalized on.

The Knights end the season 18-24 and qualified for the IIAC Tournament for the first time since 2009.

KCRR recap