DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team won their home opener and handed the visiting Simpson College Storm just their second loss of the season in game one 5-4 in a walk-off. The Storm captured the second game 10-2 in five innings for a split in American Rivers Conference action on UD Softball Field.

The Spartans won the opener is exciting fashion on Tuesday afternoon. UD led 4-2 through six innings before the Storm tied the game after crossing a pair of runs across the plate in the top of the seventh and final inning. Lead-off Megan Leick opened with a single through the right side. Katie Hayes pushed Leick to second after a sac bunt. Lauren Jacobs popped up to the pitcher for the first out. Madison Taeger grabbed a walk-off when she doubled down the left field line and scored Leick who crossed homeplate for the fifth and game winning run. UD scored five runs off eight hits and made two errors in the victory. The Spartans left seven runners on base and the Storm left four runners on base.

Ally Gullette earned the win on the mound after a complete seven inning effort where she allowed four earned runs with a pair of strikeouts and faced 29 Storm batters. She improved to 7-2 on the season and thrown 67.2 innings with a 1.97 ERA.

In the second game, UD trailed 3-2 after the first inning before Simpson found their offense and added four runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth to lead 10-2. The game ended after the fifth when Bella Allison at lead-off grabbed a single down the right field line. Kaitlyn Powell reached on a fielder's choice and Allison was thrown out at second for the first out. Grace Stevenson flew out to left field for the second out. Megan Leick reached on a fielder's choice and Powell was out at second for the final out. UD scored two runs with five hits and played errorless, Simpson compiled 10 runs off 11 hits an made one error. Ciaran Rigby took the loss after 3.1 innings and allowing nine earned runs with a strike out after seeing 23 batters. Amber Wisely pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run after facing seven batters.

The Spartans (13-7 overall, 2-2 in A-R-C) are off until April 5 when UD hosts Nebraska Wesleyan University (17-4 overall, 0-0 in A-R-C) in a double-header beginning at 1:00 p.m. on UD Softball Field