MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Southern Nazarene entered the weekend knowing it would have its hands full against No. 4 ranked Southern Arkansas, and Friday night showed why as the Storm dropped both games of a doubleheader 4-0 and 11-3.
 
The Crimson Storm tallied just three hits in the series opener and six in the nightcap as the Muleriders used solid defense to slow down the SNU offensive attack. Brooklyn Sparkman got the nod in the opening game as she tossed 6.0 innings while taking her sixth loss on the year. She allowed four runs on eight hits while also striking out three SAU hitters.
 
Jacey James, Caitlyn Curlee, and Hailie Fellers were the only Storm players to record a hit as the Southern Arkansas ace Sydney Wader earned her 18^th win of the season for the Muleriders.
 
SAU scored one run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. That one run advantage for the Muleriders carried all the way into the sixth inning as SNU had a few opportunities to tie the game, but the home team was having none of it. The Muleriders scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-0 and SNU couldn't get anything going in the top of the seventh as SAU took the first game.
 
Cheyenne Laguna got the start in the circle for the second game as she took her fourth loss of the season. She tossed 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on two hits. Cassidy Davila, Caitlin Lewis, and Madi Arnold each came in to pitch in relief as the SNU pitching staff combined for just one strikeout against the hot-hitting Muleriders.
 
Hailie Fellers led the way at the plate for the Crimson Storm as she finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Kaley Knox had a solid outing at the dish as she went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Mahina Sauer and Peyton Robinson each finished 1-for-3 as Sauer recorded an RBI while Robinson scored a run.
 
After three scoreless innings, Southern Arkansas' bats exploded in the bottom of the fourth. The Muleriders scored nine runs to put the run-rule in effect for SNU. The Storm needed at least two runs in the top of the fifth to extend the game, and they scored three.
 
Fellers' single to left scored Knox and Peyton Robinson scored on an error to make it 9-2 before Sauer's double scored Fellers to cut the SAU lead to 9-3. The Muleriders scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to close out the Storm.
 
Southern Nazarene will close out the series with No. 4 ranked Southern Arkansas tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.