SEARCY, Ark.—Last weekend Arkansas Tech broke up a six game Southern Nazarene winning streak with a double-header sweep of the Crimson Storm, this time it was SNU's turn to break up a six game winning streak, snapping Harding's streak with their own double-header sweep of the Bisons on Friday evening, taking game one 3-2 before a 9-6 win in game two.
Game 1:
A tight pitcher's duel in game one saw Southern Nazarene cling to a 3-2 win over the Bisons. It was Jennifer Romro-Ivarson who led the way in the circle for SNU, notching her seventh win of the season after another complete game in which she limited Harding to just two runs on six hits.
One of Harding's two runs came just a couple of batters into the game. They led off the bottom of the first inning with a bunt single, stolen base, runner advancing groundout, and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. Romero really settled in from there, though, holding Harding scoreless for the next six innings as they did not cross the plate again until the seventh.
The Crimson Storm had their own troubles on offense in game one, though. Despite notching 10 hits in the game, SNU tallied just 3 runs after leaving 8 runners on base. They were held scoreless through the first four innings, but grabbed the lead in the fifth inning after plating two runs. It was an RBI single from Liana Heshiki and an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Caitlyn Curlee (Bates) that gave the Storm the lead.
In the top of the seventh, SNU garnered a crucial issuance run after Natalie Jones blasted a leadoff home run that ultimately proved to be the difference. The run was crucial because Harding notched their second run of the game in the bottom of the seventh after an RBI double left the tying run in scoring position. She was stranded there after a sharp lineout to Emma Swearingen at first base ended the game.
Heshiki and Brooklyn Sullivan led the way offensively with a pair of hits each. Jones's home run was the Crimson Storm's lone extra base hit in the game.
Game 2:
The second game of the day was a much higher scoring affair, but one that saw SNU comfortably in control throughout much of the later innings.
Southern Nazarene took the lead in the second inning on yet another Liana Heshiki RBI as she grounded into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The one run was all SNU could muster in the second inning, but they found plenty of offense to make up for it later in the game.
Chelsea Vandiver was phenomenal working around traffic on the basepaths. She gave up six hits in the first four innings, but kept Harding off the scoreboard until a two-out single in the fourth inning. Vandiver was relieved to start the fifth inning, but came back in with two outs in the inning to earn the final out. She also pitched the sixth inning and was relieved by Jennifer Romero-Ivarson in the seventh. Vandiver's final line was 5.1 innings pitched and 3 runs given up.
SNU broke the game open with big fourth and fifth innings. They scored three in the fourth on a Brooklyn Sullivan sacrifice fly and Natalie Jones two-RBI double. The Storm then added four in the fifth thanks to an RBI double from Hailey Evans, a Hannah Morales sacrifice fly, and RBI singles from Sydney Sundbye and Liana Heshiki.
Harding closed the gap with a pair of runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh and could have had a chance of the tying run at-bat, but a double with runners on first and second scored one before the game's final out was recorded at third base.
It was another multi-hit game for Liana Heshiki, who finished with a pair of hits and 2 RBIs. She was joined by Emma Swearingen, Hailey Evans, and Hannah Morales who all also recorded multi-hit games. Both of Evans' hits were doubles.
With a pair of wins, SNU closed the gap on the current GAC second placed team to just half a game. Harding now sits at 10-6 in the GAC, while the Storm improved to 9-6. With a win tomorrow, SNU could move into the top three in the Great American Conference. The teams are scheduled for a single game set for 12:00 p.m. in Searcy to close out the series.
