ADA, Okla. – Southern Nazarene's softball team (9-5, 2-0 GAC) opened up their conference schedule on Friday as they traveled to Ada for two games against the East Central Tigers (3-5, 0-2 GAC). Both games went as scheduled for SNU as they put on an offensive clinic, racking up a combined 25 runs in the two victories. In the first game, the Crimson Storm won 11-7, while in the second game, SNU dominated the Tigers, run-ruling them 14-4 in six innings.
In the first game,
Brooklyn Sparkman got the start as she pitched for three innings. Sparkman threw to 18 batters, and had four runs scored against her squad.
Courtney Cox also saw some action on the mound as she pitched for three innings in relief. Cox went against 14 batters, only allowing two runs to ring up on the scoreboard for ECU. Sparkman and Cox also combined for two strikeouts on the day.
Madison Arnold finished the Tigers off in the final inning of play. Arnold had a pretty decent game, only giving one run to 10 batters.
Natalie Jones had a terrific game for the Crimson Storm at the plate as she compiled a home-run, three RBI, two runs, and one hit.
Peyton Robinson was also very efficient for SNU going 3-for-3 from the plate, with three RBI, and two runs scored.
Hailie Fellers was another player that played well for the Storm as she had two RBI, one hit, and one run.
Both squads started the game off quietly as there were no runs scored in the 1st inning. Robinson got the party started for the Storm with a single to left field, that resulted in SNU's first two runs of the game. Going into the third, the Crimson Storm had control leading the game 2-0. In the third inning, SNU scored three more runs off Jones home-run, to extend their lead to 5-0. ECU finally got on the board late in the bottom of the third inning.
The 4th inning was high scoring by both teams, as they each scored three runs. In the top of the fifth inning, Robinson's sacrifice bunt scored Jones to put another run on the board for SNU. The Storm were up 10-4 going into the sixth inning to really put some pressure on East Central.
SNU went silent in the sixth, and also allowed ECU to put up a couple of runs. Those runs trimmed SNU's lead down to just four. SNU led 10-6 going into the last inning of play. SNU scored another run off of an error by the Tigers, and the game ended with SNU winning 11-7.
In the second game of the day SNU relied on
Chelsea Vandiver in the circle, and she delivered in an excellent fashion. Vandiver faced 27 ECU batters only allowing four runs on eight hits.
Caitlyn Curlee shined for the Storm at the dish and really set the tone early offensively with a two-run home-run. Curlee also had two RBI, one hit, and one run scored.
Jacey James also had a highly productive game going 3-for-3 from the plate, with 3 RBI, a home-run, and three runs scored.
Mahina Sauer put together some solid numbers for the Storm as well as she finished with 3 RBI, and she also scored a run.
SNU didn't try to ease slowly into this game as they got red-hot early at the plate in the first inning. Curlee hit a two-run homer that put her squad up 2-0. In the second inning, both teams were at a stalemate, and no runs were scored as SNU's lead carried over. In the third, the score-keeper may have gotten tired of changing SNU's side of the scoreboard as they utterly dominated the Tigers in the inning. The Crimson Storm's bats put up fireworks as they added eight runs on the scoreboard to further extend their lead. ECU scored two runs, and it was a 10-4 SNU lead going into the fourth inning.
In the fourth inning, Fellers scored a run off of an error that put SNU up 11-4 and in the fifth inning, James scored again from an RBI from Sauer. Sanchez popped a fly ball up that led to another two runs for the Crimson Storm. SNU ended the game with a 10-run victory as they won 14-4 and run-ruled the Tigers in six innings.
SNU wraps up their series with East Central in Ada tomorrow afternoon with another doubleheader, and will try to continue their domination over the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 12p.m.
