SHAWNEE, Okla. — The 1-2 punch of Jordan Simmons and Kaci Crawford was exactly was Southern Nazarene needed in a 5-0, 7-3 doubleheader sweep over Oklahoma Baptist.
The Crimson Storm (11-5, 2-2 SAC) allowed just nine hits and three runs over two games in their first two conference wins of the year. All 12 runs for SNU came over three innings as the Storm scored all five runs in the first game in the fourth and then had three in the first and four in the seventh in the nightcap.
Simmons (5-1) tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener while SNU scored all five of its runs in the fourth inning. Simmons struck out two and did walk a single batter as she won her fourth straight game after throwing the complete seven-inning game.
Daphne Stewart led off the fourth with a single to left before a walks to Kate Hale and Aubrey Jones loaded the bases. Stewart and Hale made it 1-0 on an OBU error before Kacey Acker loaded the bases again with a single to left. Keli Billups pushed two more runs across the plate with a double to left center before Allison Fields drove home the final run with a single to left.
All five of SNU's hits were from different players as the 5-8 spots all recorded a hit.
Crawford (5-3) had a one-hitter going into the sixth and had not given up an earned run and OBU had just there hits through six innings before the Lady Bison added a run on three hits in the seventh. The junior picked up right where she left off in strikeouts with eight more and didn't walk a single batter.
Billups went 2-for-4 in the second game with a trio of RBIs while Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
SNU scored three runs in the top of the first with all being unearned. Stewart scored the first on an OBU error before Jones and Billups both singled to give the Storm a 3-0 lead. The Lady Bison made it a 3-1 game in the bottom of the first and cut it to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Southern Nazarene though broke the game open in the top of the seventh. Hale led off the inning with a double before a Jones single and a Madden walk loaded the bases. Acker singled to right field before Billups doubled to left center as the Storm jumped out to a 7-2 advantage.
OBU threatened in the bottom half with back-to-back hits to put runners at first and third, but SNU got two straight pop ups to get two outs on the board. SNU scored one on a single, but Crawford induced a ground out for the final out.
The Crimson Storm now get set to travel Conway, Ark., for the Central Baptist College Invitational, Friday and Saturday.
