DURANT, Okla.—Southern Nazarene got back in the win column after a Saturday afternoon split with Southeastern Oklahoma State, falling 4-3 in game one before earning a 4-0 shutout victory in game two.
Game 1:
Southern Nazarene loaded the bases in the seventh inning but were unable to bring the tying run across the plate as a popout ended their threat and resulted in a 4-3 game one loss.
Southeastern built a 4-0 lead after a run in the second inning and three more runs in the fifth inning. The three runs came on just two hits as a walk, a hit by pitch, and an error extended the inning for the Savage Storm.
The Crimson Storm showed fight, scratching across two runs in the sixth inning and another in the seventh, but stranded the bases loaded in the final inning. The Storm's two runs in the sixth inning came on solo shots from Natalie Jones and Caitlyn Curlee (Bates). Jones finished 3-for-3 with a double and the homerun.
Hannah Morales came in the seventh and blasted a pinch hit solo home run to dead center field. Following her home run, Jones doubled, Liana Heshiki reached on an error, and a Curlee walk would load the bases, but a harmless popup ended the game.
Game 2:
The Crimson Storm earned their first shutout win of the season after a masterful pitching performance from Jennifer Romero-Ivarason. Ivarson mowed down the Savage Storm hitters all afternoon, collecting 8 strikeouts and limiting them to just two base hits in the game.
Southern Nazarene struggled to push across runs themselves, though, going scoreless through six innings. They left six runners on base through those six innings, but took advantage of an extra opportunity in the seventh.
SNU was gifted a baserunner to open the inning after an error by the center fielder allowed Anna Icenhower to reach first. That extra out would be huge as SNU finally came through with a two-out, two-RBI single from Natalie Jones. That was quickly followed by yet another Cailtyn Curlee (Bates) home run, giving SNU a 4-0 advantage. Curlee finished the game 4-for-4 with a double and the home run, her third consecutive game with a home run.
Southeastern was able to get two aboard in the seventh inning, putting the tying run on deck, but back-to-back strikeouts from Romero ended the game as she earned her third win of the year and first complete game shutout.
After weekend festivals and series to begin the season, SNU gets their first midweek matchup on Tuesday as the Storm host Oklahoma Baptist for a double-header. The Storm hold a 16-11 advantage all-time over Oklahoma Baptist. First pitch of Tuesday afternoon's double-header is set for 1:00 p.m. at the SNU Softball Field.
