OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene had all the makings for a season opening win Monday afternoon after leading 4-0 and had given up just two hits through the first seven and half innings before Oklahoma Christian rallied with one in the eighth and four in the ninth to scored the 5-4 win.
 
The Crimson Storm scored the first two runs of the year in just the fourth at bat of the game when Nate Saquilon belted a two-run shot to right field. SNU made it 3-0 in the top of the seventh on a two-out single to left by James Tunnell. The Storm added another run in the eighth when Saquilon scored from third on a two-out error by the Eagles (1-0).
 
OC got one in the bottom of the eighth and then broke out the bats in the ninth with five hits, including the game-winning single by Chris Miller to right field.
 
Jake Bidelman went the first five and two-thirds innings for SNU allowed just two hits and fanning five before being lifted in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Eastham came on in relief and allowed three runs on four hits before giving way to Saquilon who gave up the final two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Saquilon took the loss while Harrison Mendez recorded the win for Oklahoma Christian.
 
Saquilon went 2-for-4 on the day with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. Tunnell went 2-for-5 with an RBI while Josh Riley also went 2-for-4.
 
The Crimson Storm will now get set for its home opener, Tuesday, at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader against Northwood (Texas).