REDDING, Calif. - The Simpson softball team continued play today as they hosted #5 in the nation, Oregon Institute of Technology today in a doubleheader. 

The Red Hawks looked to stay hot on the weekend behind junior right-hander Jessica Ulshoeffer. 

The Owls jumped on Ulshoeffer as they plated three runs in each of the first three innings to take the commanding 9-0 lead. 

Simpson got its first hit of the game in the third inning on a leadoff double by Holen. 

With their backs against the wall, the Red Hawks got on the board in the fifth inning as they strung together three hits and took advantage of two Owl errors.

Back-to-back singles by Jordan Adami and pinch hitter Danielle Kelm put Simpson in business. 

A walk to Ariel Schulzkump to load the bases put the pressure on OIT as they committed back-to-back errors to allow Simpson to plate four runs to make it a 12-4 game. 

However, the Red Hawks could not push across the fifth run of the game as they fell 12-4 in five innings due to the mercy rule being in effect. 

Game 2: 

The Red Hawks looked to bounce back behind starter Jacquelyn Lujan who is coming off a 15-strikeout no-hit performance yesterday against Corban. 

The Owls drew first blood as they plated one run on a two-out rally. 

Simpson got started as Holen hit a rocket down the left field line for a leadoff double followed by a sacrifice bunt by Jayden Bayani to move Holen up 60 ft. 

Kassandra Soria plated the first run of the game for Simpson on a team at-bat as she picked up an RBI ground out to the shortstop. 

OIT plated two runs in the top half of the second inning on two extra-base hits to take the 3-1 lead.

But the Red Hawks answered back in the third inning as back-to-back one-out walks to Soria and Brianna Lopez-Cortez put traffic aboard for the middle of the Simpson lineup. 

Madyson Welch came through with a clutch RBI single that scored Soria followed by an RBI bunt single by Jessica Heck to tie the game at three. 

It proved to be a pitcher's duel as Lujan settled in and fired the next four innings of scoreless ball while allowing just one hit. 

The game remained deadlock as they moved into extra innings and utilized an extra-runner as a "ghost" runner at second base to begin the inning. 

The Owls took the 4-3 lead as they scored its ghost runner on an RBI double before Lujan ended the threat by inducing an inning-ending double play. 

However, the Red Hawks could not scratch across the tying run on second base as they fell 4-3 in extra innings. 

Welch highlighted the Simpson bats as she collected three hits in game two and four total hits on the day. 

Lujan suffered the tough loss as threw eight complete innings while allowing three earned runs and holding a tough OIT lineup to just six hits.

Simpson looks to hit the road this weekend as they travel down to SoCal to take on Hope International in a four-game set starting Friday at 11 am. 
 

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