REDDING, Calif. - The softball team kicked off its final home stand of the year against La Sierra University. 

Coming into the series, Simpson looked to move up in the Cal Pac standings as they needed to win three out of four from the Golden Eagles to hop Park in the standings and move into third place. 

Both teams put traffic aboard in the first inning but both teams stranded two runners on to keep the game scoreless. 

Simpson jumped on the board first in the second inning on a La Sierra miscue that allowed Adriana Delaney to reach base and come around to score on a double in the left-center gap by Kayley Vaillette. 

The Golden Eagles tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with a RBI double. 

But Simpson retook the lead the following inning as a lead-off single by Marissa Ramirez came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Amy LeGrande. 

A big defensive play by catcher Ariel Schulzkumpo erased a lead-off single to begin the top of the sixth. 

 

But three singles in the inning loaded the bases for La Sierra before Potes stranded the bases loaded to preserve the 2-1 lead. 

Two runs proved to be enough for Potes as she fired the complete game to earn her ninth win of the year. 

She scattered seven hits of one-run softball while striking out six LSU batters. 

Simpson notched six hits and Kayley Vaillete registered the only multi-hit performance as she had two hits to go along with the big double in the second inning. 

Game 2: 

Simpson looked for the day sweep behind Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week Jacquelyn Lujan. 

The first two runners of the game reached for La Sierra. But Lujan settled in as she struck out the side to strand both runners. 

Simpson sparked a two-out rally that saw five straight hits by Nicolena Holen, Cailey Rizzardo, Madyson Welch, Marissa Ramirez, and capped off by a two-run shot by Kimberlee Walston. 

 

Simpson added one more in the bottom of the third inning as a lead-off triple by Holen came around to score on a deep sacrifice fly to center field by Rizzardo. 

The Red Hawks moved into mercy rule territory as they plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on RBI singles by Elyse Benson and Jessica Heck. 

Lujan proved too much for the Golden Eagles as she fired the complete game shutout one-hitter to earn her seventh win of the year. 

The bats caught fire in game two as they pounded out 10 hits. 

Marissa Ramirez and Nicolena Holen led the charge with two-hit performances as they combined for four hits, three runs, and one RBI. 

With the sweep on the day, Simpson needs to win one game tomorrow to lock up the #3 seed in the Cal Pac Tournament.