TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Down 10-2 going into the 7th inning, it looked as if the Southern Nazarene Baseball team had no chance to overcome the Northeastern State Riverhawks big lead. The Crimson Storm (6-28, 5-22 GAC) went deep into their bags and put on their rally caps as SNU went to score 10 unanswered runs to beat NSU (23-11, 20-7 MIAA) 12-10 on Tuesday afternoon on the road in Tahlequah.
The two clubs met earlier this season as the Crimson Storm fell 6-4, late in Bethany. Today's contest seemed like it would have the same result, but SNU's bats came alive to cement the school's largest comeback in recent history.
Southern Nazarene tallied the game's first score off a sacrifice fly from Brian Brown that brought Clay Lockett home. The Riverhawks then hit their stride to score 10 times by the 7th inning. During the NSU run, the Crimson Storm plated one off a Lockett single into left field that sent Colby Entwistle home.
Then the fun began as SNU posted their highest-scoring inning of the season with eight total runs, sparked by EJ Taylor's score of an error. The Crimson Storm continued to capitalize off NSU's miscues as another error sent Jarrett Phillips across the plate, tallying the score to 10-4. Eric Gutierrez, Tyler Broyles, Dylan Scalice, Peyton Vinyard, Cole Embrey, and Clay Lockett each graced their way across home plate to tie the game at 10-10 by the end of this inning.
After holding NSU to no runs in the bottom of the 8th, Southern Nazarene's good fortune continued as Lockett singled to bring Landon Walker home and Brian Brown was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to plate Cole Embrey. The scoring onslaught granted the Storm a 12-10 lead and today's victory.
At the plate, Clay Lockett led SNU as he connected on four of his at-bats, scored twice, and brought in two runners. Brian Brown's three RBIs came by way of a sacrifice fly, being walked, and taking a hit by the pitcher. Jarrett Phillips and EJ Taylor turned in 2-for-4 performances with an RBI and a scored run apiece.
Cole Embrey held his own in the batter's box as he finished 2-for-3, with one RBI and two runs scored. Other notables were Peyton Vinyard and Dylan Scalice, who each collected a hit and crossed the plate.
On the bump, Jarrett Phillips had his best showing yet as he saw action through 2.2 innings, striking out five without allowing any runs, helping to turn the tide of the game. Phillips was credited with today's win, bringing his season record to 1-0. Freshman Kasen Jackson pitched for 2.0 innings and struck out two, while Brandon Rezek came in for 1.2 innings and collected three strikeouts.
Triston Graves was credited with his first save of the season as he threw for one inning and struck out two. Jacob Owen, Adrian Flores, and Lance Cotter also took the mound of the Crimson Storm today.
Southern Nazarene hopes to build off today's momentous win and carry it over into this weekend as they will play host to Oklahoma Baptist for a GAC series, starting on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
