Box Score

OKAHOMA CITY, Okla. — In a game that featured more drama than an episode of Grey's Anatomy, Southern Nazarene watched leads disappear twice, including an 11-7 lead in the top of the 10^th, as No. 24 Lubbock Christian rallied with five runs to knock off SNU 12-11.
 
The Crimson Storm (20-29) had a 4-1 lead through the third inning and rallied from being down three to tying it to force extra innings. SNU then took an 11-7 lead with four runs in the top of the 10^th. JT Bean led off the bottom of the 10^th for LCU with a ground ball to second that Zach Friesen misplayed, but redeemed himself by helping turn a double play to clear the bases with two outs.
 
Then little by little the bottom began to fall out from underneath SNU. Back-to-back singles put runners at first and third before a single to left made it an 11-8 game. A Josh Powe pinch hit single loaded the bases before Brennyn Smith delivered a two-run single to left center to make it 11-10. That set the stage for Jason Fisch who drilled a double to left center that scored the tying run and then Smith as he was the game-winning run. All five runs came with two outs and the bases empty.
 
The Crimson Storm had rallied to tie the game with three in the eighth after giving up a 4-1 lead through the third. Southern Nazarene took a 3-1 lead in the third when Nate Saquilon hit his 10^th home run of the year with a three-run shot to right. SNU added another with a Luis Hernandez double to left field. The Storm though gave up four unearned runs in the fourth and LCU added one each in the fifth and sixth innings to lead 7-4.
 
SNU though caught a break in the eighth with a leadoff home run by Jacob Inbody that cut the lead to 7-5 and then got a pair of wild pitches with the bases loaded to tie the game at 7-7. SNU and LCU both had a runner at second in the ninth, but couldn't push them across the plate as they hit extra innings.
 
In the top of the 10^th SNU struck quick as Riley Morrow floated a double to deep left center before Ryan Williams belted a two-run home run to left to give the Storm a 9-7 lead. SNU then got a walk and two hit by pitches to load the bases with two outs. Tyler De Trinidad then ripped a double to right center to drive in two and put SNU on top 11-7 heading into the bottom of the 10^th.
 
Then came the final collapse, as SNU couldn't hold on with just one out needed to record the second upset over LCU in as many weeks.
 
Tim Coleman (1-1) took the loss after giving up five runs on six hits in one and one-thirds innings of work. Jake Bidelman gave up just two earned runs on 12 hits in four innings in the start. Matt Berry gave four and one-thirds innings of relief as he allowed just one run on three hits.
 
Saquilon led the way going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Hernandez also went 3-for-6 with an RBI while James Tunnell went 3-for-4.
 
The Crimson Storm will now close out the season Friday at 2 p.m. when they play Northwestern Oklahoma State. It will be the final game in the NAIA for both institutions.