BENTONVILLE, Ark.—It was a tough day for the Crimson Storm on the diamond as they fell in both games on day one of the Alvy Early Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Game 1:
Missouri Southern kept Southern Nazarene completely off the board with a dominant pitching performance. They allowed just two hits and five total baserunners on the way to the 4-0 shutout win over the Crimson Storm.
SNU only moved a runner into scoring position once in the game when Noa Dodson stole second base in the fourth inning.
Olivia Hernandez pitched five innings in the circle, allowing 4 runs, only 2 of which were earned, and striking out 5 batters. Maddie Southerland pitched the sixth inning, striking out one batter and allowing no runs.
Game 2:
Southern Nazarene found themselves taking on a team they had already defeated this season, No. 22 Washburn, in the second game of the day. SNU could not replicate the season-opening upset as the offense continued to sputter, resulting in a 6-1 loss to the Ichabods.
Washburn jumped out to a 2-0 lead with runs in each of the first two innings. SNU got one back in the fourth inning when Hailey Evans singled home Marlee Warden. That was the extent of SNU's run production on Saturday, though, as the Crimson Storm managed just 3 more hits in the game.
Washburn broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning with a three-spot. They added one more in the fifth to eventually take the 6-1 win.
SNU will return to action tomorrow for the final day of the Alvy Early Classic. The Storm will take on William Jewell at 11:00 AM, followed by a 1:30 PM meeting with Lincoln University.