BETHANY, Okla.—Make it five wins in a row and a sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma State for the Southern Nazarene softball team as the Crimson Storm took both games of Monday's double-header, 8-3, and a 7-6 extra innings win in game two.
Game 1:
Both offenses struggled early on as the teams combined for just 6 hits and no runs through the first four innings. The Storm broke the game open in the fifth, though, erupting for five runs, which would be more than enough to secure the win.
Jennifer Romero-Ivarson pitched a complete game in the circle. She tallied eight strikeouts on the way to her fifth win of the season.
The Crimson Storm bats awakened in the fifth inning. They showed great patience at the plate as they scored five runs on just three hits, thanks in part to three walks. They also capitalized on an early error, allowing Sydney Sundbye to reach base after she laid down a sacrifice bunt. SNU's five runs in the inning came via a Liana Heshiki RBI single, a Natalie Jones RBI double, an Emma Swearingen two-RBI single, and an Anna Icenhoer RBI groundout.
Southwestern came back with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, but SNU's bats were not done in the bottom half of the inning. They pushed three more runs across the plate thanks to another Liana Heshiki RBI single and a Caitlyn Curlee (Bates) two-RBI double.
The Bulldogs added one more run in the top of the seventh, but Romero-Ivarson closed the door by forcing a pair of groundouts and a popout to short to end the ballgame.
Southern Nazarene tallied 10 hits in the game. They were led by Natalie Jones, who finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI at the dish. Liana Heshiki and Brooklyn Sullivan each added a pair of hits as well.
Game 2:
Game two was much more back-and-forth as the teams traded runs throughout the game. They combined for 25 hits in the game as seven innings was not enough to decide a winner. The Crimson Storm would finally seal the deal with a walkoff double in the bottom of the ninth.
SNU's bats got going quickly in this one as Liana Heshiki made noise on the first pitch she saw. She blasted the pitch to right-center and quickly gave SNU a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat of the game. SNU would add one more in the inning as Natalie Jones took home on a wild pitch.
SWOSU took those runs right back the following inning, though. They pushed across three runs in the inning and took their first lead of the day.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Southern Nazarene knotted the game at 3-3 after Brooklyn Sullivan led off the fourth inning with a double. She then came around to score on a Liana Heshiki sacrifice fly.
Southwestern threatened to put up a big inning in the fifth as they loaded the bases with no outs. SNU was able to pull off some magic, though, and keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. With the bases loaded, a ball would be hit between first and second base, it clanked off the runner's foot, causing her to be out and sending all runners back to their original bases. With the bases still loaded, SWOSU then hit a rocket, but it went straight into the glove of shortstop, Brooklyn Sullivan, forcing all runners to stay put. A chopper back to Chelsea Vandiver in the circle would then end the inning as she fired to first base for the final out.
Southern Nazarene then had their own opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. They did not miss on the opportunity, pushing across three runs and re-taking a 6-3 advantage. The inning unfortunately came to an end on a sharp ground ball double-play.
The double-play proved to be huge as SNU would have grabbed another run had the throw not beaten the runner to first base. Instead, the Storm had to settle for a three-run lead, which SWOSU overcame by plating three runs in the top of the seventh and extending the game.
SNU was retired quietly in the seventh and the teams were forced to extra innings. Neither team threatened in the eighth inning, but SWOSU opened up the ninth with a leadoff double. The runner then advanced to third base following a sacrifice bunt, but a huge strikeout from Romero-Ivarson notched a crucial second out. A groundout to Sullivan at shortstop ended the inning and again kept the Bulldogs off the board.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brooklyn Sullivan drew a walk. The following batter, Sydney Everhart, then laced a double over the head of the right fielder and pushed Sullivan to third, just 60 feet away from a win. She was then able to just walk home after Liana Heshiki blasted another pitch into the gap as her double walked the Storm off to a 7-6 victory.
Heshiki finished game two 2-for-3 at the plate with a homerun, a double, and 3 RBIs. Natalie Jones collected her third three-hit game of the series, this time going for four hits, including a double.
Sydney Everhart notched her first multi-hit performance of the season, this time going 3-for-4 at the dish, including the clutch double in the ninth inning.
Hailie Fellers and Brooklyn Sullivan each collected a pair of hits and double in the game, as well.
Jennifer Romero came into pitch in relief and earned her second win of the day. She pitched 2.2 innings without allowing a run. She gave up just 2 hits and struckout 2 batters.
After a bit of a slow start to the season, the Crimson Storm have started to find their groove. They have won five games in a row and climbed into sixth place in the Great American Conference play. The Storm's streak will be put to the test next time out, though, as they host a tough Arkansas Tech squad this weekend. SNU took 2 of 3 over Tech during the regular season, but the Golden Suns knocked them out of the GAC tournament with a dominating 13-0 win. The Crimson Storm will hope for their revenge this weekend as they play a single game on Friday, followed by a noon double-header on Saturday. First pitch on Friday is set for 3:00 p.m. at the SNU Softball Field.
