TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Southern Nazarene softball team split their first two games of the Cactus Classic tournament with an 11-2 run-rule win over Fort Lewis, and a 4-3 loss to Hawaii at Hilo on Friday afternoon in the Grand Canyon State.
 
Brooklyn Sparkman got the start in the opener on Friday as she hurled the ball for 4.0 innings to 16 batters, and only gave up two runs. She also only allowed five hits, and gave the Storm their only strikeout in the victory. Courtney Cox also came in for relief for the Storm. She pitched for just one inning, and didn't allow any runs or hits.
 
Hailie Fellers led the way offensively going 2-for-3 at the plate with one run, and also gave the Crimson Storm (5-3) four RBI's. Peyton Robinson had a great day, as she went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and two bases stolen. Natilie Jones also put up some solid numbers as she scored a run, and put together two RBI's. 
 
The Crimson Storm started out the game slow, not putting up a run in the first inning. It wasn't until the bottom of the second when they finally found a spark. That spark was ignited by Fellers, who got an RBI. Fellers' RBI led to a run by Kristen Toepfer, and also tied the game up at one run a piece with Fort Lewis.
 
 In the bottom of the third, the Crimson Storm were on fire at the plate as they scored four runs. In the fourth inning, SNU had their way again, pushing six runs more runs across the plate. Victoria Rodriguez had a single to left field, that resulted in three of those runs. SNU took their foot off the accelerator in the fifth inning, as they cruised to an 11-2 run-rule win over Fort Lewis.
 
In the Crimson Storms second game of the day against Hawaii-Hilo, Chelsea Vandiver got the start in the circle. Vandiver couldn't find her rhythm, as she allowed three hits, and two runs scored. Madison Arnold and Courtney Cox also come in as relief for SNU. 
 
Peyton Robinson was a bright spot for the Crimson Storm as she had one hit, two RBI's, and also scored two of SNU's three runs in the game. Kai Sanchez, Natilie Jones, and Jacey James all had base knocks, as each of them put together two hits.
 
It was a stalemate to start the game, as no runs were scored by either team until the top of the third inning. Robinson hit a triple to right field, that resulted in the Crimson Storm's first two runs of the day. 
 
Later in the bottom of the fourth, Hawaii Hilo scored two runs, both coming off of RBI's. Those runs tied the game up at 2-2. Both teams wouldn't let the other pull away as the game reached the final inning of play with a tie score.
 
SNU took the lead in the top of the 7th off of a run scored by Robinson, making the score 3-2. 
In the bottom of the 7th, Hawaii Hilo needed at least one run to extend the game, but got two on a walk-off double to end the Crimson Storm's hopes of starting the Cactus Classic 2-0.
 
Southern Nazarene will look to get back to their winning ways as they continue their schedule in the Cactus Classic on Saturday against Dixie State and Western Oregon. First pitch against Dixie is set for 10:00 a.m. with a 12:30 p.m. start scheduled for Western Oregon.