BETHANY, Okla.—Everything was working for Southern Nazarene on Friday afternoon when they picked up their first conference run-rule win of the season as they claimed a 9-1 five-inning win over Henderson State to open the series.
It was a huge win for the Crimson Storm (21-22, 10-14 GAC), who increased their lead over Henderson State (17-24, 9-16 GAC) to a game and a half for eighth place in the Great American Conference standings. The eighth spot is pivotal as it is the final team who qualifies for the GAC postseason tournament.
Southern Nazarene jumped on the Reddies early. They scored two runs in the first inning and followed that with a five-run second inning. Leading by seven runs in the fifth inning, SNU walked it off with a Macy Stewart single down the left field line.
SNU's two-run first inning came courtesy of a Hailey Evans two-out, two-RBI double that scored both Natalie Jones and Emma Swearingen.
The game was broken open in the second inning when SNU's offense exploded for five runs. Kennedy Sherer and Hannah Morales each reached base on infield singles to open the inning. Brooklyn Sullivan then moved them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. SNU attempted another sacrifice bunt with Sydney Sundbye, and it worked out even better than planned. Henderson went for the out at home, but Sherer safely slid in under the tag and everyone was safe.
The following batter, Liana Heshiki, hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Morales and pushed SNU's lead to 4-0. Natalie Jones then kept the line moving, singling home Sundbye and increasing the lead to 5-0. After a pitching change, Emma Swearingen put together the biggest swing of the game, blasting a two-run shot over the left field fence that gave SNU a huge 7-0 lead.
Neither team scored in the third inning, but Henderson was finally able to break through on the scoreboard with a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning. That was the only run the Reddies managed all game as they were quietly retired in the fifth inning.
SNU quickly got that run back in the bottom half of the inning. Natalie Jones and Emma Swearingen each singled and Jones would later score on Hailey Evans' RBI fielder's choice.
The Storm offense kept up the pressure in the bottom of the fifth and were determined to collect the run-rule win. Once again, back-to-back singles from Sherer and Morales to open the inning put SNU in great position to capitalize. Just like the second inning, both runners moved up on a Brooklyn Sullivan sacrifice bunt. The next at-bat, pinch hitter Macy Stewart, roped the ball down the left field line, leaving no-doubt that Sherer could trot home and ice the game in run-rule fashion.
Olivia Hernandez was once again phenomenal in the circle. She picked up her eighth win of the season by pitching four innings and striking out 8 batters, while allowing just one run. She showed tremendous poise in the first inning after an error, a bunt single, and a stolen base put runners on second and third with no outs. She worked out of the jam without allowing any runs by forcing two strikeouts and a lineout.
Jones, Swearingen, Sherer, and Morales all recorded two hits in the game. Evans led the team with 3 RBIs, giving her 42 for the season, which ties her for the top spot in the GAC.
The Crimson Storm will look to put up another performance like Friday's in Saturday afternoon's double-header. At least one win in the double-header would go a long way in helping the Storm earn a trip to Bentonville for the GAC Championship tournament. First pitch of the double-header is set for 12:00 p.m.
