WAVERLY, Iowa – Softball (17-7, 2-0 A-R-C)) opened American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play on Wednesday, Apr. 1 with a sweep over No. 12 Simpson College (17-4, 0-2 A-R-C) in an action-packed doubleheader at Lynes Field.
 
Wartburg defeated the Storm in game one 10-9 following a two-RBI walk-off single from Bella Mulder. The Knights took a weather-shortened game two 7-4 following a five-run bottom of the fourth led by back-to-back home runs from Addy Wells and Jenna Wiebenga.
 
Game Summary

• Game One
  • First Inning
    • Simpson got on the scoreboard in the opening frame after three hits, including back-to-back doubles, led the Storm to a 2-0 lead
    • Wartburg wasted no time responding as the Knights turned three hits into three runs to take a 3-2 lead
      • Reagan Hassel and Wells each reached base and stole a base to put runners on second and third before Wiebenga walked to load the bases
      • Carley Bredar hit a hard ball into the gap for a two-RBI single that tied the game and then Liz Kruckenberg brought another run across with an RBI single that put the Knights in front 3-2 after the first inning
  • Fourth Inning
    • After a quiet second and third inning from both offenses, Wartburg added two more runs to its total to take a 5-2 lead
      • Ally Happ walked and then moved to third following Hassel's third hit of the game before she was scored in Warburg's next at bat as Wells put a bunt down to bring the run home
      • Wiebenga used a sacrifice bunt to score Hassel to push the Wartburg lead to three runs
  • Fifth Inning
    • The Knights defense closed the top of the fifth inning with an impressive relay throw out as Simpson tried stretching a double into a triple before Stephanie Kiefer threw from the right field corner to Happ at second base, who relayed it to Wells at third for the out
  • Sixth Inning
    • Simpson recorded three singles and a double in the top of the sixth inning to score three runs and tie the game up at 5-5
    • In the bottom of the sixth, a sacrifice flyout from Wells brought Happ home and put the Knights back in front 6-5
  • Seventh Inning
    • Simpson took a 9-6 lead following the top of the seventh after four hits turned into four runs, including a two-run home run
    • The Knights rallied in the bottom of the seventh with a lead off single from Bredar, who was brought home by an RBI-double from Kruckenberg to make the score 9-7
    • Both Kiefer and Alexis Larson reached base before a groundout from Hassel scored Kruckenberg to cut the Simpson lead to 9-8
    • WIth two outs and two runners in scoring position, Mulder stepped up to the plate and hit a bloop single over the shortstop's head to bring both runners across to give Wartburg a 10-9 walk-off win
• Game Two
  • First Inning
    • The Knights jumped on Simpson in game two with two runs scored from one hit and two Simpson errors
      • Both Hassel and Mulder reached base via fielding error before a sacrifice flyout from Wiebenga brought home
      • Bredar doubled for the Knights to bring home Mulder and give the Knights a 2-0 lead after the first
  • Fourth Inning
    • Simpson used a solo shot home run and an RBI single to tie the game up in the top half of the fourth inning
    • Wartburg responded with a huge bottom of the fourth offensively as the Knights used two home runs and a double to bring five runs across to take a 7-2 lead
      • Mulder brought the first run of the inning across when she doubled to the gap to bring home Larson
      • With Happ and Mulder on base, Wells stepped to the plate and delivered a three-run blast to left field that put the Knights in front 6-2
      • The very next at bat, Wiebenga smashed a solo shot to left center field to push the lead to 7-2
    • Fifth Inning
      • The Storm used a single and a double to bring in two more runs in the fifth inning to cut the Knights lead to 7-4
      • Following a scoreless bottom of the fifth, the teams took the field for a few at bats in the sixth inning before the game was called off due to rain
        • The game was ruled a five inning contest with the Knights winning 7-4

 
Top Performers

• Game One
  • Reagan Hassel
    • 4/5 at the plate
    • RBI
    • Two stolen bases
  • Carley Bredar
    • 2/4 at the plate
    • Two RBI
    • Double
  • Liz Kruckenberg
    • 2/3 at the plate
    • Two RBI
    • Double
    • Walk
  • Bella Mulder
    • 2/5 at the plate
    • Walk-off single
    • RBI
• Game Two
  • Addy Wells
    • 1/3 at the plate
    • HR
    • Three RBI
  • Jenna Wiebenga
    • 1/1 at the plate
    • HR
    • RBI
    • Walk
  • Bella Mulder
    • 2/3 at the plate
    • RBI
    • Two run scored
    • Double
  • Carley Bredar
    • 2/3 at the plate
    • RBI
    • Double

 
Notes/Streaks

• Wartburg has now swept Simpson in five of the last six regular season doubleheader meetings
• First win vs a top-25 opponent for Wartburg in 2026
  • First ranked win/highest ranked win since defeating No. 10 WashU in last season's NCAA Tournament
  • First back-to-back wins over ranked opponents since the 2023 season (three in a row)
• Wartburg's first year pitchers in Hoefer (7-2) and Katelyn Klever (5-3) each picked up wins inside the circle
• Third home run of the season for Wells
  • Fourth of her career
• Second four-hit game of the season for Hassel
• Second home run of the season for Wiebenga
  • 11^th career HR
• Larson caught a runner stealing and picked a runner off from her catcher position today
• Mulder has now eclipsed 30 RBI this season (31) with Hassel (27) and Wiebenga (27) just behind
• Both Happ (23) and Hassel (20) each have 20+ stolen bases this season

 
Next Time Out
The Knights will be in action next on Friday, Apr. 3 on the road against Nebraska Wesleyan University at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (moved from Saturday 4/4)