BETHANY, Okla. — In a non-conference battle with their archrival Oklahoma Christian, Southern Nazarene dropped a thriller at Feland Field 6-5 on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Crimson Storm (4-12) had an opportunity in the bottom of the ninth to walk-off their home field with a victory, but the Eagles closed the door on an exciting game in Bethany. Both SNU and OC tallied double-digit hits in the game as the Eagles finished with 13, while the Storm recorded 10. The pitching staff for SNU recorded 13 strikeouts in the game, while the Storm hitters only struck out six times in the contest.
 
Tyler Thompson got the start on the bump for Southern Nazarene as the junior tossed 2.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. David Lechuga took his first loss of the season for SNU as he allowed one run on two hits and struck out three. Noah Serrano also pitched 2.0 innings, while Brandon Rezek and Zach Birkle each recorded an inning of action on the mound as well.
 
Senior Shelby Reese led the way at the plate for the Crimson Storm as he finished 2-for-3 with two RBI's and a walk. Cole Lee also tallied multiple hits as the sophomore went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in the game. Cobi Ceron and Tanner Ladon each finished 1-for-4 as Ladon had one RBI, and Garrett Perez and Jack Campbell went 1-for-5 with a run scored.
 
Jarrett Phillips and Connor Dayton both came on to pinch-hit and the pair finished the game with one hit for SNU.
 
Oklahoma Christian scored one run in each of the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead into the third. Southern Nazarene responded in the bottom of the third when Reese's single scored Lee and Perez to tie the game 2-2.
 
After a couple of scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, the Eagles tacked on one run in the sixth and one in the seventh to take a 4-2 lead. OC pushed their lead to 6-2 in the top of the eighth before the Storm would go on a rally to make things interesting coming down the stretch.
 
Ladon's single through the left side in the bottom of the eighth scored Campbell to make it 6-3, before Dayton's single to right field scored Phillips to make it 6-4.
 
After SNU loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, Lee scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5. Mason Haydock came to the plate with two outs and an opportunity to seal the comeback, but his hard hit ball to right field was caught by the Eagles to seal the win.
 
Southern Nazarene now hits the road this weekend for a three-game series against Henderson State on Friday and Saturday in Arkadelphia.