BETHANY, Okla. — To close out the NWOSU series, Southern Nazarene dropped both games of the doubleheader, losing 25-12 in Game 1 and then losing by just one run in Game 2, 7-6.
The Storm (11-12, 5-7 GAC) were out-played by the hitting abilities of the Rangers (12-11, 6-6 GAC) in Game 1, but turned things around in Game 2. SNU stayed toe-to-toe with NWOSU all game-long, forcing 12-innings of play, but falling by just one run to close out the series.
Game 1
The windy conditions in Bethany made way for 12 homeruns, with most off the bats of the Rangers who cranked out seven in the first game.
NWOSU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, tacking on five runs in the first inning, all off homeruns.
Homeruns seemed to be the driver of SNU's scoring as well as DJ Van Atten cranked one over the fence to put SNU behind 5-3.
The Storm brought the game within one in the second when Oliver Wilson put up a homerun of his own. NWOSU was quick to pull away in the third, exploding for 12 runs in the third inning off of majority singles to balloon to a 14-4 lead.
The long shots continued to help SNU lessen the gap as both Dax Edmonds and and Carson Kinnaird cracked out homeruns to put SNU within 10 at 17-7 after the third.
The Rangers pushed their lead up to 13 off two more homeruns in the fourth. SNU continued to fight, bringing their deficit down to 11 off a Cole Embrey double and a NWOSU error.
The Rangers began to pull away in the fifth and sixth innings, cracking out hit after hit to build a 25-11 lead, leaving one inning left for the Storm to turn things around. SNU was able to get one run in the 7th, but three outs initiated the run rule and NWOSU claimed victory in seven with a final score of 25-12.
Game 2
After a scoreless first inning, the Rangers opened up a two-RBI homer to right field in the second, getting the 2-0 start over SNU. The Storm's bats were slow to wake up, leaving the Rangers to tack on another run in the third off of a sacrifice bunt, moving up to a 3-0 lead.
O'Shea Whiteside got things moving for SNU in the bottom third, doubling to right field to set up Dax Edmonds for the next at-bat. Edmonds grounded out, giving Whiteside the trot home and SNU put up their first run of Game 2.
Colby Entwistle's single gave SNU one more run before the inning was up, scoring Van Atten to put SNU behind 3-2 moving into the fourth.
The pitching of Casey Minchey and SNU's fielding efforts kept the Rangers at three runs through the next three innings. The Rangers also kept SNU off the boards through the next three innings, stalling the score at 3-2 with one final inning left to play.
The Rangers snuck one more run in to lead 4-2, just before they got caught stealing for the third out. A Dax Edmonds sacrifice fly and a Carson Kinnaird single tied the game at four a piece, initiating an extra inning of play.
The extra inning of play turned into five extra innings as neither team could edge one another at the plate. Northwestern finally turned the tables in the top of the 12th, cracking out a three-RBI homerun, moving one step closer to victory as they led 7-4.
Southern Nazarene never let up, taking advantage of two Ranger errors that earned them two runs, trailing by one with two outs on the board. SNU could not answer at the plate, grounding out to first base to end the game just shy at 7-6.
The Storm play Bacone College for the second time this season on Tuesday, March 14th for a home doubleheader starting at noon. SNU won both games of the doubleheader the last time these two teams met.
