BETHANY, Okla.—Southern Nazarene earned a split with the top team in the Great American Conference as they walked off the Muleriders 3-2 in extra innings in game one before falling 8-2 in game two.
Game 1:
After just two runs crossed the plate through seven innings in game one, Southern Nazarene and Southern Arkansas combined for three runs in the eighth inning after Southern Arkansas notched one run in the top half of the inning before Sydney Sundbye walked the Muleriders off with a two-out two-RBI double in the bottom half of the inning.
Neither offense found much success early on as they each notched just one hit and no runs through three innings. The Storm finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, though, after using the wild wind to their advantage. Hailey Evans led the inning off with what appeared to be an easy popout to shortstop. Instead, the wind grabbed a hold off the ball and blew it just behind the third base bag in fair territory, allowing Evans to make her way all the way to second base. A couple of batters later, Evans came in to score on Caitlyn Curlee's (Bates) RBI single.
Southern Arkansas quickly bounced back the following half inning. They collected their own double and single to tie the pitcher's duel at 1 a side.
SNU had their chance to retake the lead in each of the final three innings, putting two runners on base in each inning, but ran into a couple of outs on the basepaths that ended those threats.
In the eighth inning, the Muleriders finally broke through again on the scoreboard after a leadoff double led to a single run on the scoreboard.
SAU appeared to be on their way to the win on the bottom half of the eighth after two quick outs to open the inning. Caitlyn Curlee (Bates) extended the inning with a single, her third hit of the game. Anna Icenhower then followed suit with her own single, putting the tying run on base.
After having been pinch-hit for earlier in the game, Sydney Sundbye re-entered the game with a chance to be the hero. Sundbye then did what every hero does, and that is battle. She battled at the plate, fouling off pitch after pitch after pitch. She saw five pitches with two strikes and finally found the one she liked. She turned on the pitch and ripped it down the left field line. Bates and Icenhower raced around the bases, easily beating any throw the Muleriders could make and giving the Crimson Storm a 3-2 eight inning win over the top squad in the GAC.
Game 2:
Southern Arkansas proved why they are such a terrific team in game two, putting the late loss behind them and earning a 8-2 win over the Crimson Storm.
Both teams put up a run in the first inning, much earlier than in game one. Southern Arkansas earned their run after a walk was sandwiched between a pair of base hits. The Crimson Storm got their run after Emma Swearingen doubled home Natalie Jones, who reached via error.
The Storm grabbed the lead a couple of innings later after Brooklyn Sullivan turned a long at-bat into a solo blast that cleared the center field fence.
SNU's lead was short-lived, though, as Southern Arkansas's offense got going over the next few innings. They tallied a run in the fourth, three runs in the fifth, and two in the sixth to bust the game open and take a 7-2 lead.
The Muleriders tacked on one final run for good measure after an SNU error in the top of the seventh.
Anna Icenhower each collected multi-hit games for the Storm. Both of Heshiki's hits were doubles. Of SNU's nine hits, four went for extra bases, including Heshiki's two doubles, an Emma Swearingen double, and the Sullivan home run.
The deciding game three of the series will take place tomorrow at noon. Prior to the game, SNU will host pregame festivities for the Alumni and Veterans Apprecation Day, including a field dedication ceremony, honoring long-time head coach, Tere Webber. Festivities are set to begin at 11:30 a.m. with first pitch to follow.
