REDDING, Calif. - The softball team came out with the series victory today as they swept St. Kat in the twin bill today. 

A lead-off rocket back up the middle by Nicolena Holen set the tone for the rest of the day for the Red Hawks offense. 

A one-out single by Madyson Welch scored Holen from second to put Simpson on the board first. Followed by back-to-back doubles by Cailey Rizzardo and Kimberlee Walston extended Simpson's early 3-0 lead. 

The Firebirds scratched across one run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 3-1 Red Hawks.

But Simpson answered back and platted one in the bottom of the inning when a lead-off walk to Rizzardo came around to score on a clutch two-out single by Amy LeGrande. 

The Red Hawks plated three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs off four hits by Holen, Ariel Schulzkump, Rizzardo, and Adriana Delaney. 



A solo shot to left field to lead off the inning by Nicolena Holen highlighted the three-run outburst. This marked the first homer of Holen's young career. 

Sophomore Jessica Ulshoeffer had it going today as she completed the complete game victory while allowing just two runs off six hits. 

Simpson pounded out 12 hits on the day and were led by Holen's three-hit performance at the plate. 

Schulzkump, Rizzardo, and Walston followed close behind with two-hit games and combined for three extra-base hits. 

Game 2:

Simpson looked for the series win and sweep of the twin bill behind starter Kylee Potes. 

Potes ran into some early trouble as she houdinied a bases-loaded walk unscathed as she induced back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to end the threat. 



Nicolena Holen continued to stay red hot at the plate as she hit a lead-off bomb on a towering fly ball that snuck in the foul pole to begin the game for Simpson. 

Potes surrendered her first run of the weekend as the Firebirds platted one run off three hits in the second inning. 

Simpson answered back though as they platted two runs in the bottom half of the inning. 

A single by Adriana Delaney and Amy LeGrande came around to score on Holen's fifth hit of the day on a two-run single with the bases loaded. 

Back-to-back doubles by Madyson Welch and Cailey Rizzardo to lead off the inning set up a Delaney RBI single that scored Welch from third base to give Simpson the 4-1 lead. 

St. Kat pushed across another run in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 4-2 ball game. 

But Simpson exploded for four seven runs off seven hits and two Firebird errors to end the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with the mercy rule being in effect. 

The seven-run outburst included hits by Amy LeGrande, Kayley Vaillette, Nicolena Holen, Kassandra Soria, Madyson Welch, Hollee Jamison, and Adriana Delaney. 

A one-out two-run double by Delaney ended the game in the sixth inning to give Simpson the series win and sweep of the day. 

Potes fired a complete game while allowing just two runs and striking out six St. Kat hitters to pick up her second win of the weekend.

After stumbling out of the gates on the first day, the Red Hawks had quite the weekend as they saw several girls have career weekends. 

On the mound, senior southpaw Kylee Potes picked up two wins while pitching two complete games which included one shutout victory. She allowed just two runs while striking out 11 batters this weekend. 

Sophomore Jessica Ulshoeffer, last year's key arm in the Cal Pac tournament picked up her first win of the year on a six-hit shutout victory in game three. 

                

On the offensive side of the plate, Nicolena Holen had a weekend to remember as she went 9-13 on the weekend while picking up two big flies, two doubles, and five RBIs. 

Adriana Delaney also went 9-13 on the weekend and proved to be the Red Hawk's big run producer as she picked up two doubles and 10 RBIs. 

Cailey Rizzardo collected six hits as she went 6-10 on the weekend while hitting one bomb, two doubles, and driving in four runs. 

Kimberlee Walston notched five hits which included three doubles and two RBIs while reaching base safely in all seven of her plate appearances this weekend. 

Madyson Welch collected four hits in 10 trips to the plate as she found constant barrel this weekend. 

Simpson looks to stay hot as they take the momentum with them as they head to the Tucson Invitational in Arizona next week.