ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — With the final regular season series underway, Southern Nazarene split the first two games of the series with Henderson State in a 3-1 loss, and an 8-6 win on Friday.
 
The Crimson Storm only managed five hits in the opener, as the Reddies were sharp on the defensive end. Katelyn Brown got the start in the circle for SNU, as the senior took the loss. She struck out five batters and gave up three runs, all earned, in 6.0 innings of work.
 
Sydni Toilolo led the way at the plate for the Storm as the senior finished 1-for-2 with the only run scored for SNU. Kriston Shumaker and Caitlyn Curlee each went 1-for-3, while Victoria Rodriguez finished 1-for-2.
 
Henderson State scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take an early 2-0 lead before Southern Nazarene finally got on the board in the sixth. Kai Sanchez grounded out to shortstop, as Toilolo scored on the play from a throwing error to make it a 2-1 game.
 
The Reddies added another run in the bottom of the sixth to push their lead to 3-1, and the Storm couldn't answer in the seventh.
 
Brooke Tate got the start for Southern Nazarene in the final game of the doubleheader as the senior allowed four runs, one earned, one three hits in 3.0 innings of work. Mahina Sauer picked up her second win of the season, as the sophomore provided 3.2 innings in relief. She struck out two and allowed two runs, both earned.
 
The Storm bats came alive in the second game, as they tallied nine hits in the game. Jacey James led the way at the plate for SNU as she went 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a double. Sauer also went 2-for-4 and scored a run to go with a couple of doubles. Caitlyn Curlee finished 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI's, while Victoria Rodriguez also went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Southern Nazarene was on the board first, as they scored four runs in the top of the first. Katelyn Brown scored on an error to get things started, before Sauer also scored on an error to make it 2-0. Curlee's eighth home run of the season was a two-run bomb to give SNU a quick 4-0 lead.
 
The Reddies came right back in the bottom of the first to score a run, and then added three more in the third to tie the game 4-4. Kendal Stockstill reached on an error that scored Alexis Ramos in the fourth to give SNU the lead back at 5-4.
 
James' single later in the fourth inning scored Stockstill to make it 6-4, before James ripped a double in the sixth to score Rodriguez and Shumaker. After taking an 8-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, the Storm needed just three outs to finish the day with a split.
 
Henderson State made things interesting by scoring two runs to make it 8-6 before Katelyn Brown came in to pitch and slammed the door on the Reddies.