Box Score BETHANY, Okla.—It was another walkoff hit for Liana Heshiki as Southern Nazarene earned a 7-6 extra innings win over Arkansas Tech to open the three game series.
The game marked the fifth time this season that Southern Nazarene (10-15, 7-4 GAC) has seen extra innings. Coming into the game, SNU was just 1-3 in extra inning contests, but they won their second straight such affair as they held Arkansas Tech (16-12, 7-5 GAC) scoreless in the top half of the eighth before Liana Heshiki's clutch two-out single drove home the winning run.
Seven runs is not an easy feat against Arkansas Tech, who boasts one of the top pitching staffs in the conference with a 2.59 team ERA. SNU got a couple of early runs though, that gave them a bit of a cushion. Brooklyn Sullivan's RBI fielder's choice and Liana Heshiki's RBI single pushed the Storm in front 2-0 in the second inning.
Neither team scored in the third and fourth innings, but the scoring erupted over the next inning and a half. In the top of the fifth, Arkansas Tech's Caitlyn Wells blasted a pitch to dead center, a two-run shot that tied the game. That was not the only two-run shot of the fifth inning, though, as the Crimson Storm notched two two-run homers of their own. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Liana Heshiki was hit by a pitch. Natalie Jones then lifted one in the air to right field and the wind would push it just enough to get over the wall and once again give SNU a two-run lead. Following the Jones homer, Caitlyn Curlee (Bates) singled to short and Emma Swearingen promptly brought her home with a missile over the right-center field wall. SNU then led 6-2 heading into the sixth inning.
Arkansas Tech's offense got hot in the sixth inning. They would come all the way back to tie the game at 6 as they notched 4 runs on 5 hits. Of those 4 runs, 3 came with two outs in the inning as they continued to battle at the plate and fight off multiple two-strike counts.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning, forcing SNU into their second straight extra inning contest.
The Golden Suns threatened in the seventh inning. After a leadoff single to open the inning, Arkansas Tech's Shelby Chavers was gunned down attempting to steal second by Liana Heshiki. That out was huge as Chavers potentially could have scored following a two-out single and double that put runners on second and third. Instead, Arkansas Tech was sent away following a groundout to end the inning.
In the eighth inning, Southern Nazarene put runners on second and third with two outs in the inning, giving Heshiki a shot at her second straight walkoff hit. Heshiki fouled off a couple pitches and found herself with a full count. The full count pitch was on the outside part of the plate, Heshiki went with the pitch and blooped it into left field. It fell directly on the foul line, perfectly between the shortstop and left fielder, allowing pinch runner Hannah Morales to walk home and score the game-winning run.
Along with Heshiki, Caitlyn Curlee (Bates) and Emma Swearingen also produced two-hit performances. Heshiki, Jones, and Swearingen collected 2 RBIs, a piece.
Chelsea Vandiver earned her first win in the circle of the season. She came in relief in the sixth inning and worked scoreless innings the rest of the way.
The win marks 10 on the season and six straight victories for the Crimson Storm. Of their six straight wins, four have come by one run. They will look to keep the momentum flowing through the rest of the series tomorrow as SNU meets Arkansas Tech again for a double-header. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at the SNU Softball Field.
