After starting off the 2026 campaign with four straight wins, Simpson moved up four spots to 17 in the latest NFCA/GoRout Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Simpson began the year with doubleheader 4-1 and 6-4 wins over previously ranked No. 20 Illinois Wesleyan. The Storm followed up on Sunday with a win over host school Wisconsin Eau Claire 8-6 before outslugging St. Catherine 10-4 to secure the weekend sweep.

Following the four wins, Marina Cronin and Caelynn Obleton swept the A-R-C weekly Player of the Week awards with Cronin being named Pitcher of the Week and Obleton Player of the Week. The pair was also recognized by the NFCA as weekly top performers, joining only 12 other student-athletes honored nationally across all of Division-III. Cronin pitched in two games, throwing six innings, allowing just one unearned run while collecting a win and a save with six strikeouts. Obleton went 5-for-11 on the weekend with four RBIs, four stolen bases and two runs scored.

The Storm come home for the first time in 2026 welcoming Westminster for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 7 with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

*from simpsonathletics.com