OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Southern Nazarene softball team held leads of 1-0 and 4-3, but could not maintain it as a couple of big innings by Colorado Christian gave them a 12-6 win over the Crimson Storm on Day 2 of the UCO/OC Festival at Tom Heath Field on Sunday evening.

SNU struck first in the top half of the first inning as Kaley Knox got things started with a bunt single and proceeded to swipe second. After Jacey James bunted her over to third, Mahina Sauer drove her home to give the Crimson Storm the early 1-0 advantage.

Colorado Christian got three back in the bottom half on a 3-run homer to right to take a 3-1 lead through one complete.

In the top of the third, James got things started with a one out single and SNU loaded them up thanks to a CCU error and a walk by Skye Ah Yat. Riley Kalman stepped to the plate and laced a double to center field, scoring two, and tying the game three. Caitlyn Curlee followed with a groundout, driving in another run and putting SNU back on top 4-3.

However, the Cougars struck for four runs in the bottom half of the third, taking advantage of three walks and an error by the Crimson Storm to move ahead 7-4.

SNU got one back in the fifth inning as Kalman had a deep single to right center, scoring a run thanks to a throwing error from the outfield to cut it back to 7-5, but Colorado Christian again answered in the bottom half with five runs to move their lead out to 12-5.

In the sixth, James drove a single through the left side to score Peyton Robinson, pulling SNU closer at 12-6. The Crimson Storm got a pair on in the seventh, but could not string together a rally as they fell 12-6.

Caitlin Lewis (L, 0-2) was tagged with the loss, going 2.2 innings while Brooklyn Sparkman and Cheyenne Laguna saw action in relief. Laguna was strong in relief, pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.

Kalman led the way, going 2-for-3 from the plate with a double and two RBIs while James and Sauer each had a hit, a RBI, and a run scored. Knox also added a pair of hits to go with a stolen base and a run scored. Curlee, Ah Yat, and Kai Sanchez each had a hit while Peyton Robinson came off the bench to get a hit and score a run.

SNU falls to 2-5 overall and will look to salvage this weekend's games as they will take on Washburn tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. at Tom Heath Field on the campus of Oklahoma Christian.