GREENVILLE, Ill. - The softball team opened their home season with a doubleheader split against a solid Simpson squad from Iowa on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers dropped game one 6-0 and took the second game 3-2 behind an 11 strikeout performance from Alison Klaus.

In game one, Panther starting pitcher Melissa Bernal worked in and out and trouble over the first two innings but ultimately held Simpson at bay until the third inning when the Storm plated their first run. Simpson added two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two more in the seventh for the 6-0 win.

The Panthers were limited to just one hit, a double from Mia Boyd.

Bernal pitched six innings, only allowing one earned run among the four plated by Simpson. She gave up 11 hits and struck out five.

Chesleigh Pugh permitted two runs on three hits to close the game.

The Storm slipped ahead of GU 2-0 in the first inning of game two, but Panthers received a gift run from Simpson in the bottom of the first when a sharply hit ball by Boyd was dropped and Madi Case scored an unearned run.

In the bottom of the third, Boyd crushed a two run home run to right center, giving Greenville a 3-2 lead.

Klaus finished the complete game with seven innings of work, only allowing four hits, four walks, and two unearned runs.

The Panthers (6-12) travel to Rose-Hulman for a doubleheader on March 30.