ROCKLIN, Calif. - The softball team finished its weekend strong with a split on the final day of the Jessup Invitational as they took down Menlo College 7-0 but fell earlier in the day to #1 Oregon Tech 9-1. 

Simpson grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Madyson Welch. 

A one-out double by Ariel Schulzkump came around to score on a single down the right-field line by Welch. 

Sophomore Jessica Ulshoeffer had her hands full as she faced the #1 team in the nation the Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls. 

After two quick innings for Ulshoeffer to start the game the Owls jumped on the Sophomore pitcher for six runs off seven hits in the third inning. 

Freshman Lily Rojas came in relief of Ulshoeffer in the top of the third inning. 

Rojas scattered six hits and three runs over the next 3.1 innings against the hot-hitting Owls.  

OIT took the game in six innings due to the mercy rule as they defeated Simpson 9-1. 

The Red Hawks bats were led by Ariel Schulzkump and Madyson Welch who both notched two hit performances. 

Schulzkump owned Simpson's lone extra-base hit of the game with her first-inning double in the left-center field gap. 

Marissa Ramirez rounded out the Red Hawks offense with a bunt single. 

Game 2: 

Senior southpaw Kylee Potes got the ball in the Jessup Invitational finale as they took on Menlo College. 

Simpson grabbed the 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a 2-run triple by Nicolena Holen. 

A two-out rally started by a Hollee Jamison walk followed by an infield single by Kayley Vaillette set the stage for a triple over the right fielder's head by Holen. 

The Red Hawks added insurance runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. 

A one-out Holen hit by pitch followed by a double by Ariel Schulzkump put traffic on the bases for Madyson Welch.

Welch came through in the clutch with a rocket up the middle to score Holen and Schulzkump for the two-run single. 

Simpson tacked on another run in the top half of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by Amy LeGrande and Hollee Jamison to put two runners aboard. 

Kayley Vaillette picked up an RBI on a ground ball to the first baseman to push across LeGrande for the fifth run of the game. 

The Red Hawks padded its lead in the sixth inning with two more runs. 

A lead-off single by Schulzkump followed by a pinch-hit single by Kassandra Soria came around to score on a Marissa Ramirez double in the left-center alley. 

The combined effort of Potes and Jacquelyn Lujan completed the 7-0 shutout victory for Simpson. 

Potes fired a two-hit performance over 4.0 innings of work while striking out five Oaks. 

Lujan slammed the door with three scoreless frames while allowing just one hit and punching out two Menlo batters.

Nicolena Holen, Madyson Welch, Amy LeGrande, and Ariel Schulzkump led the Red Hawk bats with two-hit performances.

Kayley Vaillette, Marissa Ramirez, Hollee Jamison, and Kassandra Soria rounded out the Red Hawk's offense with single-hit games. 

Simpson looks to carry the momentum into conference play that is set to begin March 1st against Saint Katherine University in a four-game series.