MAGNOLIA, Ark.—Southern Nazarene split Saturday's double-header to finish the series with No. 16 Southern Arkansas 1-2. The Crimson Storm took game one 3-2 in extra innings before falling 1-0 in another tight contest in game two.
Game 1:
After comin up just short in yesterday's series opener, Southern Nazarene bounced back and took a 3-2 win in eight innings over Southern Arkansas to open Saturday's double-header. They were held scoreless from the fourth through the seventh innings, but scratched across one run in the eighth to grab the win.
The Southern Nazarene pitching staff once again shut down a strong Southern Arkansas offense. They limited the Muleriders to two hits yesterday and just two runs, only one of which was earned, in Saturday's opening game.
The Crimson Storm jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning when a Sydney Sundbye groundout scored Kennedy Sherer. A throwing error on the same play also allowed Noa Dodson to come around and score.
SAU was able to get one run back in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game in the fifth. They had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after Grace King, yesterday's Mulerider hero, was hit by a pitch. The following batter laced a line drive to center field and appeared to be headed for extra bases, but an incredible diving catch from Sydney Sundbye ended the threat and sent the game into extra innings, keeping SNU alive.
Sundbye kept it going for the Crimson Storm in extra innings. She led off the eighth inning with a bunt single and quickly advanced to third after back-to-back bunts from Natalie Jones and Emma Swearingen. She then scored after Hailey Evans smacked a chopper to shortstop. The Muleriders tried to cut down Sundbye at the plate, but she just slid under the tag and pushed SNU in front 3-2. SNU still had the bases loaded with one out, but a strikeout and a popout ended the Storm's chances of adding on any insurance runs.
Southern Arkansas appeared to be on their way to tying the game in the bottom half of the inning after a lead-off double, but Olivia Hernandez did a great job of stranding the runner. With two outs, the runner was able to advance to third on a wild pitch, but a groundout to shortstop Brooklyn Sullivan ended the game and handed the Crimson Storm the game one win.
The Crimson Storm collected six hits as a team. Two of those hits came off of the bat of Liana Heshiki, who has a multi-hit game in four of the last seven SNU contests.
Game 2:
Game two was even more of a pitcher's duel than game one. Just one run was scored in the contest when Southern Arkansas plated one in the third inning.
The teams combined for just nine hits in the game with SNU edging the Muleriders 5 to 4 in that category. Neither side notched an extra base hit in the game.
11 straight Storm batters were retired between the 2nd and 5th innings. The Storm finally got back on base when Kennedy Sherer singled to lead off the sixth inning. SNU eventually moved a runner to third base, but a groundout ended the inning and kept the Storm off of the scoreboard.
SNU again moved the tying run into scoring position in the seventh inning, but a popout and a strikeout brought the game to an end.
Janie Worthingon pitched a complete game and struck out 8 batters over six innings of work. She has lowered her ERA to 2.42 over 34.2 innings of work.
The Crimson Storm will return home next weekend to host Arkansas-Monticello for a big Great American Conference series. Monticello and Southern Nazarene currently sit at 7th and 8th, respectively, in the conference standings. Only the top 8 teams in the conference advance to the GAC tournament in Bentonville. Historically, these two teams are dead even with each having won 17 games against one another. Last season, the teams played just twice due to weather. They split the double-header in Monticello. First pitch on Friday, March 24 is set for 3:00 p.m., followed by a noon double-header on Saturday.
