ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Southern Nazarene opened up Great American Conference play with a tough matchup, taking on reigning GAC Champions, Arkansas Tech. The Golden Suns showed they are once again a top team, taking two wins over the Crimson Storm by winning game one 9-0 and game two 5-3.
Game 1:
Not much went right for the Crimson Storm in game one. They were downed in five innings as the Storm struggled both to slow down the high-powered Arkansas Tech lineup and find runs themselves.
Arkansas Tech grabbed one run in the first and grew their lead from there. They capitalized on a second inning SNU error that spiraled into a four-run inning for the Golden Suns. Arkansas Tech plated four more runs in the fourth inning and quickly set down the Crimson Storm in the fifth inning for a five-inning run-rule win.
SNU mustered just three hits in the game as they managed to figure out the Arkansas Tech pitching. They managed to put just one runner in scoring position, which came in the first inning after a two-out Liana Heshiki double. Tech's starting pitcher, Bailey Buffington, worked all five innings. She ranks second in the GAC in ERA and second in wins.
Game 2:
Game two was much tighter and saw SNU hold a lead through the early innings, but unfortunately for the Crimson Storm they could not hold on as they ultimately fell 5-3.
SNU got on the board in the first inning with a pair of runs after Liana Heshiki led off the game with a four-pitch walk. She came around to score two batters later on a Hailey Evans double. Allyson Haessly pinch ran for Evans and scored on the next at-bat following an Arkansas Tech error.
Tech tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, but SNU regained the lead in the second when Liana Heshiki singled to center field and drove in Kennedy Sherer. That was the final run SNU could push across as they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position over the final five innings.
Arkansas Tech took the lead in the fourth inning with a big three-run inning. They held onto the lead over the final three innings by forcing SNU to hit into two double-plays.
Heshiki reached base on all four plate appearances in the game, roping two singles and drawing two walks.
Evans also picked up two hits, including the RBI double.
Taryn Martin came off the bench to blast a pinch-hit double in the sixth inning.
SNU will turn around tomorrow and look to salvage one game out of this tough GAC opening series. They will meet Arkansas Tech for the third and final game at 12:00 p.m. in Russellville.
