BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene could not bounce-back in Saturday's doubleheader against SWOSU, falling short 10-4 in Game 1 and 8-7 in Game 2.
The Bulldogs (18-16, 11-10 GAC) caught fire late in Game 1, highlighted by 14 total hits to SNU's eight. The Storm (14-21, 7-15 GAC) challenged SWOSU in Game 2, gaining an early 6-1 lead backed by three back-to-back home runs. The Bulldogs wasted no time getting back on top, outscoring the Storm 7-1 in the final five innings.
Game 1
Both squads worked through four innings without a run until SWOSU broke the scoring drought with 4-0 lead between the fifth and sixth innings.
SNU turned the momentum to their side in the bottom half of the fifth, starting in style with a Weston Hicks solo blast to left field. The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the seventh, but DJ Van Atten brought back SNU's scoring with a home run of his own for the 5-2 trail.
The Storm took advantage around the diamond in the 8th with two more runs to come within one-run at 5-4, but the Bulldogs quickly took control of the ballgame in the 9th, exploding for five runs to extend their lead to 10-4.
With two outs already under their belt in the bottom half of the 9th, SNU's Colby Entwistle kept his team alive with a single to left field to advance Van Atten to second. The Storm's comeback was soon warded off at the plate as they reached their final out and SWOSU improved to 2-0 over SNU with the final 10-4 win.
Game 2
The series closure was a completely different ballgame, highlighted by continuous home runs through the first four innings. Through those first four, each of the combined nine runs between the two teams were entirely long balls over the fence.
SWOSU blasted the first, but Van Atten was quick to respond with his two-RBI homer to right field. Van Atten was not finished, capping off excellent offense by SNU in the bottom second with a three RBI blast to left center, pushing the Storm to a 5-1 lead.
Hicks earned his second solo homer of the day in the second inning, bumping the Storm up 6-1.
The Bulldogs quieted the Storm through the next few innings, waking up their offense to tie the ballgame at six a piece in the 5th inning.
The Storm's Drake Irby cracked a huge double to regain the lead at 7-6, but SWOSU tied it once more with an RBI single to left field. Unable to keep up the scoring, SNU allowed the Bulldogs another run off a wild pitch in the 6th.
That was the last of the scoring between either team and remained a game at the bump. SWOSU's 6th inning run gave them enough cushion through the next inning to award them the final 8-7 victory and a series sweep in Bethany.
SNU heads to Durant in search of a bounce-back series as they face Southeastern Oklahoma State University Friday, April 7th at 2 p.m. followed by a Saturday, April 8th doubleheader at noon.
