ALVA, Okla. — Southern Nazarene opened the final series of the regular season with a 5-4 loss and a 4-3 win on Friday against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
 
Mahina Sauer got the start in the circle for the Crimson Storm in the series opener as she tossed 3.0 innings and allowed one run on two hits. Caitlin Lewis provided an inning in relief and gave up one run on two hits in 2.0 innings, while Brooklyn Sparkman took her eighth loss of the season. She threw 2.0 innings and allowed three runs on five hits by the Rangers.
 
Sauer also led the way at the plate for SNU in the opener, as the junior had a field day. She finished 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI's, and two runs scored. She accounted for three of the Storm's four runs as Riley Kalman drove in the other run for SNU. She went 1-for-4 with a home run as well.
 
Peyton Robinson had a perfect 3-for-3 outing at the plate, while Hailie Fellers and Caitlyn Curlee each finished 1-for-4 at the dish.
 
The Rangers snapped a four-game skid in the series opener as they faced a 2-0 deficit in the top of the first after Sauer's two-run bomb scored herself and Jacey James to give SNU the early lead. Later in the third, Sauer's solo shot to right field extended the Storm lead to 3-0, before NWOSU scored one run in the bottom of the third to cut into the lead at 3-1.
 
Northwestern tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-2, before pushing three more runs across in the fifth to take the lead at 5-3. SNU entered the final inning needing at least two runs to keep the game alive, and nearly did when Kalman's solo shot to left field made it 5-4. After that, the Rangers closed the door on SNU to take game one of the series.
 
Sparkman got the start in the circle for SNU in the night-cap game as she allowed three runs on five hits in 4.1 innings of action. Madi Arnold earned her first win of the season after providing 2.2 innings in relief.
 
The Crimson Storm managed six hits in the second game of the series and it was enough to come away with the victory courtesy of a two-out rally in the top of the seventh.
 
Caitlyn Curlee led the way at the plate for SNU in the 4-3 win as she finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Skye Ah Yat finished 1-for-4 and her single provided two RBI's which put the Storm ahead in the top of the seventh inning. Hailie Fellers, Peyton Robinson, and Kai Sanchez each recorded a hit against the Rangers, as Robinson and Jacey James each scored a run.
 
After a couple of scoreless innings, Southern Nazarene was the first team to score in the top of the third inning when Fellers' single prompted a throwing error that ended up scoring James to make it 1-0. The Storm added another run in the top of the fourth when Sanchez singled up the middle to score Robinson to make it a 2-0 advantage for SNU. Much like the opener, the Rangers decided to make things interesting in the final three innings.
 
NWOSU scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead 3-2. After holding SNU scoreless in the sixth, the Storm came to the plate in the top of the seventh needing at least one run to avoid the Friday sweep. The Rangers allowed a couple of Storm hitters to reach base, but managed to get two outs. Freshman Skye Ah Yat came to the plate and ripped a single up the middle to score Curlee and Riley Kalman to give SNU the lead back at 4-3.
 
Arnold came back in the bottom of the seventh and closed the door on any Ranger comeback and helped SNU earn the Friday split.
 
Southern Nazarene will look to close out the regular season on a high note, as they take on Northwestern Oklahoma State tomorrow in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Alva.