WOODWARD, Okla. — Southern Nazarene Baseball took a quick break from GAC action, heading up to Woodward, Oklahoma to take on Oklahoma Panhandle State for a weekday doubleheader, defeating OPSU in both games 20-9 and 11-9.
Before the doubleheader sweep, the Storm (6-9, 2-4 GAC) were tied 9-9 with the Aggies (5-10-1, 0-0 SAC) within the series. SNU recorded two more wins against OPSU Tuesday, brought on by huge fifth and sixth innings that gave SNU the push they needed to take care of business in both games.
Game 1
Southern Nazarene battled back and forth with the Aggies through the first few innings, controlling a slim 8-6 lead by the 5th inning.
The bats lit up for the Storm in the sixth as they exploded for 11 runs to OPSU's single run. The offensive onslaught began with a Tanner Bare double that plated Carson Kinnaird and DJ Van Atten. A wild pitch and an error by the Aggies allowed the Storm to tack on five more runs, now leading 12-6.
Singles by Dax Edmonds and Chance Burfford as well as doubles by Van Atten and Bare pushed SNU up to a 10-run lead at 16-6 just before their third out.
The Aggies were able to put up one run just before the end of the sixth inning, but that wasn't enough to stop SNU, who were in route to victory.
In the top of the 7th, Tyler Broyles was able to get the walk with the bases loaded, giving Weston Hicks the score.
Down 17-7, the Aggies had one final shot to erase the deficit, but were only able to put up two runs, giving SNU the chance to pack on three more runs to end in victory 20-9.
Van Atten highlighted the hitting for SNU, cracking four hits off his five at-bats, good for two RBIs.
Bare's bat was hot, having a 3-5 day with five RBIs and two doubles.
Bufford had a 2-3 finish with three RBIs and Cole Embrey finished with five RBIs from a 1-4 finish.
Oliver Wilson got the win, pitching through four innings with two strikeouts.
Game 2
Southern Nazarene had more work to do in Game 2, falling behind through the first three innings as the Aggies picked up a 5-1 lead to start.
The Storm quickly gained some momentum in the sixth inning, stringing together six runs from two doubles and a Van Atten homer that propelled the Storm to a 7-4 lead.
The Aggies answered in the bottom half of the inning, keeping SNU at a distance with a few good hits and an SNU error, taking back the lead at 8-7.
Southern Nazarene took control in the sixth and seventh innings, outscoring the Aggies 4-0, courtesy of relief pitcher Parker Presley who kept OPSU off the scoreboard with four strikeouts and no runs allowed.
A Hicks homer in the 6th followed by a Carson Kinniard double and catching error in the seventh gave SNU all the insurance they needed take care of business in Woodward, winning 11-9 in Game 2.
Hicks led with a 2-5 hitting day and three RBIs. Van Atten finished 1-3 with 2 RBIs while O'Shea Whiteside finished 1-4 with 2 RBIs.
Zach Isham finished with the win, pitching through two innings and five strikeouts.
SNU will be back to GAC action at East Central Friday, March 3rd for a single game at 2 p.m. followed by a noon doubleheader Saturday, March 4th.
