ALVA, Okla. – Southern Nazarene's softball team made the trek north to Alva on Thursday for the first of a three-game battle with Northwestern Oklahoma State. In dominating fashion, SNU never gave the home team a chance as they run-ruled NWOSU 16-3.
 
The game was never in question for the Crimson Storm (13-14, 11-7 GAC) as they dominated the Rangers (7-17, 2-16 GAC) for the entire game. The Storm racked up a season-high 16 hits on Thursday as their bats have started to get hot at just the right time of the season.
 
In the top of the first inning, Brooklyn Sparkman hit a double down the left field line, which scored Caitlyn Curlee and Skye Ah Yat to give SNU the early 2-0 lead. Later in the same inning, Victoria Rodriguez reached on a fielding error, which allowed Sparkman to cross the plate. After the Rangers plated one in the bottom of the first, SNU took a 3-1 lead into the second frame. Northwestern Oklahoma State pushed one more run across the plate to cut it to 3-2 before the Southern Nazarene onslaught really began.
 
The third inning saw Rodriguez hit a single to the pitcher that scored Curlee to tally the Storm's fourth run of the game. Later in the inning, Brooklyn Sullivan reached on a fielder's choice and Sydney Everhart took advantage and scored on the play. At the end of the third inning, the Storm led the Rangers 5-2. Curlee's double to left center field in the fourth inning scored Kaley Knox and Natalie Jones to push it to 7-2, before Sydney Sundbye hit a single through the left side that plated Curlee. In that same inning, Rodriguez hit a single which allowed Sparkman to score.
 
At the end of the fourth inning, Sullivan hit a ground ball and that gave Sydney the chance to extend the Storm's lead even further. At the end of the inning the Storm had a controlling 10-2 advantage on Northwestern Oklahoma State. 
 
Mahina Sauer wanted a piece of the action in the fifth inning as she hit a two run home-run to left field to balloon the lead to 12-2. Later in the same inning, Jo Jo Riggin hit a single down the left field line which allowed Curlee to round home for SNU's 13^th run of the day. 
 
SNU wasn't done in the fifth as Chloe Pender hit a single to right field that scored Riggin and Sundbye to put two more runs on the scoreboard for the Crimson Storm. Morgan Brannon capped it off with a single through the left side, and Hallie Fellers scored on the play. The Crimson Storm defense held strong in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule.
 
Sydney Sundbye had a monster day at the plate for the Storm as she had three hits, two runs, and one RBI. Caitlyn Curlee also starred for the Storm as she finished with two hits, four runs, and two RBI. Brooklyn Sparkman also had an excellent day at the dish with two runs, one hit, and two RBI. 
 
Brooklyn Sparkman got the start in the circle for SNU as she faced twelve batters and threw 53 pitches. She only allowed two runs and she also struck out five Ranger batters. Chelsea Vandiver and Cassidy Davila came in relief for the Storm. They combined to allow just one run and record one strikeout. 
 
Southern Nazarene will close out the series with Northwestern Oklahoma State on Friday in a double-header in Alva. The first game will start at 2:00 p.m with the night-cap game beginning at 4:30 p.m.