BETHANY – Southern Nazarene's softball team opened up their series with Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory on Senior Day at Cypert Athletic Complex.
On top of honoring six seniors pregame (two from the 2020 class in
Jacey James and
Kai Sanchez, and four from the 2021 class in
Cassidy Davila,
Victoria Rodriguez,
Brooklyn Sparkman, and
Mahina Sauer), SNU also honored head coach
Tere Webber after the game for her final season with Southern Nazarene.
The Crimson Storm (18-16, 16-9 GAC) were sharp defensively all afternoon long as they held the Blossoms (8-21, 7-18 GAC) to just three hits in the game. Senior
Brooklyn Sparkman got the start in the circle for SNU and pitched phenomenally, giving up no runs and just two hits in 6.0 innings of work. Senior
Cassidy Davila came out of the Storm bullpen in the final inning and slammed the door on UAM and earning the save.
At the plate, senior
Mahina Sauer was the catalyst as her 2-for-3 effort was the difference in the game. She drove in two RBI's with a double in the contest.
Caitlyn Curlee secured SNU's third RBI with her 1-for-3 finish, while
Hailie Fellers and
Victoria Rodriguez each went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Skye Ah Yat also crossed the plate for the Storm in the game as well.
After a couple of scoreless innings to start the contest, Southern Nazarene decided to get going in the bottom of the third. After Rodriguez, Fellers, and Ah Yat reached base, Sauer stepped in and ripped a double down the right field line, scoring two runs to give the Storm the 2-0 lead. Later in the same inning, head coach
Brian Madden signaled Curlee to bunt with Ah Yat stealing home. Curlee executed the bunt perfectly as Ah Yat graced home untouched to extend the SNU advantage to 3-0.
From there, the Storm cranked up the defensive as Arkansas-Monticello found themselves in a hole entering the final inning and needing three runs. The Blossoms were able to push one across the plate on Davila, but the senior delivered the crucial outs needed to secure the victory for SNU.
Southern Nazarene will close out the series with UAM tomorrow afternoon in Bethany in a doubleheader. First pitch with the Blossoms is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with the series finale set for 2:30 p.m.
