BENTONVILLE, Ark. — After dropping a close 5-3 contest to Pittsburg State, Southern Nazarene found the win column with a 5-3 victory over Northwest Missouri State Saturday afternoon in the UAM 8-State Classic.
 
In the opener, Pittsburg State struck first as it scored four of its five runs in the top of the first. Three runs coming off a three-run home run to left and the other run being walked in.
 
The Crimson Storm got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Amy Reynolds drew a one out walk and was pinch run for by Kendal Stockstill. Stockstill came around to score the Storm's first run of the game after Mahina Sauer hit an RBI double to deep left. Sauer advanced to third on a throwing error. Sauer scored, to make it a 4-2 game after Hannah LeBeau hit a sacrifice fly to left.
 
SNU made it a one-run game after Kai Sanchez drew a bases loaded walk to put the score at 4-3 going into the seventh.
 
The Gorillas tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh, making it 5-3
 
Southern Nazarene finished the game with three hits, leaving six on base. Sauer finished 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI double and a run scored.

Brooke Tate (0-3) took the loss after she gave up four runs. Katelyn Brown came in and pitched seven innings, while only surrendering one run and one hit. She also struck out eight.
 
In the nightcap, the Storm grabbed an early 1-0 in the top of the first. Reynolds led the game off with a walk and was advanced over to second after Sam Smith put down a sacrifice bunt. Reynolds advanced to third on an illegal pitch and scored on a field's choice by Sauer.
 
A Northwest Missouri State home run in the bottom of the first tied the game up at 1-1.
 
Southern Nazarene retook the lead in the third inning. Reynolds hit a one out single through the left side and was moved into scoring position after Smith drew a walk. With runners on first and second, Sauer reached on a field's choice that caused a throwing error. The throwing error allowed Reynolds to score, while moving Smith to third and Sauer to second. A second throwing error scored Smith and Sauer and allowed LeBeau to reach first safely and advanced her over to second. LeBeau moved over to third on a passed ball and scored after Riley Brown hit an RBI single through the left side. Southern Nazarene led 5-1 going into the top of the fourth.
 
The Bearcats rallied in the bottom of the seventh as they scored two runs, but that's all they would get as Southern Nazarene held on for its second win of the season.
 
Reynolds went 1-for-3 with two runs and a walk.
 
Sauer (1-2) got her first win of the season after she allowed three runs, on ten hits, while striking out one in six innings of work. Tate came in and pitched one perfect inning of relief, retiring all three batters she faced and recording her second save of the game.