BETHANY – Southern Nazarene's softball team closed out the series with Harding on Saturday, splitting the doubleheader in a 3-2 win and a 7-1 loss at Cypert Athletic Complex.
 
Although the Crimson Storm dropped the series finale, they conclude the weekend with two out of three wins against a quality GAC opponent closing out the month of March. After SNU lit up the Bisons on Friday in the opener, Harding's pitching and defense settled in on Saturday. The Storm recorded nine hits in the opener but just five in the finale as HU got their bats going at the dish.
 
Game 1
 
Senior Chelsea Vandiver got the nod in the circle for Southern Nazarene in the opening game Saturday as she earned her fourth victory of the season. She tossed 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out one batter. Brooklyn Sparkman came in out of the bullpen in the final two innings and struck out two hitters and earned her first save of the season.
 
Mahina Sauer led the way at the plate for the Crimson Storm as she went 2-for-3 with two RBI's and a home run, her sixth of the season. Natalie Jones had a spectacular game finishing 3-for-4 with one run scored. Sparkman also had a solid outing at the dish going 2-for-3 with a run scored as well. Skye Ah Yat and Hailie Fellers also recorded a hit with Ah Yat crossing the plate for SNU.
 
Sauer got things going in the first inning with a single to left to left center that scored Jones to give SNU the early 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Sparkman's single up the middle scored Ah Yat to push it to 2-0. Harding plated one run in the top of the third before Sauer's solo-shot to right field made it 3-1. The Bisons got one in the sixth before Sparkman came in and slammed the door on any HU comeback.
 
Game 2
 
Hannah Sattler graced the rubber in the series finale for SNU as she took her first loss of the season. The Crimson Storm made use of the bullpen as Jayleigh Totten, Cassidy Davila, and Madi Arnold all saw action in the circle for SNU. The third inning was a killer for Southern Nazarene as Harding's bats exploded for six runs to blow the game open with a 6-0 lead.
 
The Crimson Storm finally got a run across in the bottom of the fourth when Brooklyn Sullivan's single to center field scored Sydney Sundbye to make it 6-1. Harding's defense wasn't budging as they pushed one more run across in the seventh and shut down the Storm offense in the final inning to take the finale.
 
Sundbye led the way at the dish for SNU as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored while Sullivan finished 1-for-2 with an RBI. Caitlyn Curlee and Mahina Sauer each went 1-for-3 as the Storm managed just five hits in the game.
 
Southern Nazarene will hit the road next week as they travel to Alva to take on Northwestern Oklahoma State in a three-game series on Thursday and Friday. First pitch with the Rangers on Thursday is set for 5:00 p.m.