BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Southern Nazarene's season came to an end on Saturday afternoon at the GAC semifinals as they fell 3-1 to Southeastern Oklahoma State. It was a classic pitcher's duel as despite the 15 combined hits, neither side collected a single extra base hit.
Two days after upsetting the GAC regular season champions 7-2, Southern Nazarene (25-28) was unable to get their offense going again. They collected just one lone run in the game, thanks in part to a Southeastern Oklahoma State (33-25) throwing error that allowed McKayla Franks to scamper home from third.
Neither team crossed the plate for the first three innings of the game. Southeastern finally broke through in the fourth inning thanks to three hits. They were helped by an infield single, as well as a bloop single to left field before a two-out line drive back up the middle scored the game's first run. Janie Worthington then entered the game to pitch and collected a huge strikeout to strand a pair of Southeastern runners in scoring position.
Southeastern extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. They took advantage of a walk and a hit by pitch, followed by another two-out RBI hit. This one went for a pair of RBIs and gave Southeastern a three-run advantage.
SNU put multiple runners on base in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, but could muster just one run. They left eight runners in base, including stranding the bases loaded to end the ballgame.
The Crimson Storm responded to Southeastern's two runs in the top of the fifth inning with one in the bottom half of the inning. They got started with a McKayla Franks single and she made her way around the bases thanks to a pair of Harding mistakes, including a passed ball and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt that allowed Franks to score. She likely would have scored regardless as both Kennedy Sherer and Liana Heshiki collected two-out singles before a groundout stranded them each on base.
Southern Nazarene put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on base in the seventh inning after a hit by pitch, a single, and walk, but they could not get them across as a lazy popout in foul territory ended the game and SNU's season.
Southern Nazarene put together a great season that featured four wins against top-25 teams, including a win over then No. 1 Rogers State early in the season, and No. 18 Oklahoma Baptist in the GAC Quarterfinals.
With a young squad that featured 22 freshmen or sophomores, Southern Nazarene is primed to improve on this season and make another great push in 2024.
