BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene Softball opened Great American Conference play over the weekend with a three-game series against Arkansas Tech. The Storm (10-7, 2-1 GAC) run-ruled the Golden Suns (9-4, 1-2 GAC) in Games 1, 9-1, and in Game 3, 8-0, but fell short in a competitive battle in the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday, losing 7-5. 

Game 1 

Janie Worthington got the nod to start inside the circle for the Storm, rolling with six wins to her name so far this season. The junior started off strong for the Storm, handing the Suns three quick outs to open the game. Mikayla Oaks broke out a double to kick off SNU's first inning frenzy, bringing home lead-off batter Hailey Evans home for the 1-0 lead. Kristen Mullendore contributed to the action with another double for SNU, good for two RBIs as Emma Swearingen and Oaks trotted home for the now 3-0 advantage. 

The side was retired and the Golden Suns decided to close the gap in top of the second with a solo homerun over the center field fence to trail 3-1. Worthington stopped ATU in the next two at-bats. Oaks had the hot bat once more and singled to right field with the bases loaded, allowing Kennedi Morelock to find home plate, putting SNU ahead 4-1. 

Worthington continued to make it difficult for Arkansas Tech at the plate while the Storm never lost their shine, exploding for four runs in the third inning alone. Morelock singled to shortstop to score Mullendore and then stole second to push Sundbye home on a Golden Suns throwing error. Heshiki was able to cap off the third inning burst with a single to left field that plated both Emma Green and Morelock again, putting the Storm in run-rule territory with 8-1 lead. 

Worthignton was never shaken up inside the circle, delivering more strikeouts in the way of Arkansas Tech to leave more opportunities for the Storm to score even more. With two outs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, Mikayla Franks did not want the side to retire, launching a bomb over the right field fence to put the Storm ahead by eight, now in hopes of calling the game at five innings. 

It was up to Worthington to keep the run-rule in effect and she did just that, allowing the Golden Suns just one more hit before making them settle for a pop up and the last and final strikeout of the game.

Worthington's lasting mark inside the circle capped off an incredible performance by the Storm who opened conference play with the epic 9-1 run-rule victory over Arkansas Tech. 

Worthington finished her incredible day with a complete game, eight strikeouts, and only two hits allowed, putting her at 6-1 on the year. 

Oaks had a great GAC debut, finishing 2-3 with two RBIs. 

Game 2

Southern Nazarene faced a much closer battle in the first game of the doubleheader, 

The Suns were the first to get on the board, reaching first on an SNU error with the bases loaded to score one, putting them ahead 1-0. The Storm were able to respond in the bottom half of the inning, in statement fashion, as Hailey Evans homered to left field as the lead off batter, tying the score at 1-1. 

ATU took back the lead in the second inning with a single to right field with two on base, scoring one to lead 2-1. Southern Nazarene was unphased, responding in the bottom half of that inning with an Emma Green single that pushed Mullendore across for the 2-2 tie. 

It became a pitching duel between Olivia Hernandez and Ella Thornley as neither squad brought in any runs in the third and fourth innings. Southern Nazarene heated back up in the fifth when Mikayla Oaks reached first on an ATU error that sent  Keneddi Morelock home to bump ahead 3-2. Southern Nazarene kept the fire going taking advantage of a Suns passed ball with the three on base, advancing Heshiki home to get ahead even further at 4-2. 

The Suns came within one run of the Storm in the sixth inning after another center field single that plated a baserunner. The Storm then looked to Katelyn Woodard to relieve Hernandez inside the circle and shut down the ATU. Feeling the pressure, Heshiki broke out another single for the Storm that allowed Green to cross home for the 5-3 lead. 

Arkansas Tech wasn't finished, launching a left center bomb with the bases loaded, tacking on four runs that put them ahead 7-5. Maddie Southerland came in to relieve Woodard and she was able to retire the side with ATU in the lead at 7-5. 

Green was able to reach first on an error by the first baseman, but that was not enough to keep SNU alive in the bottom half of the seventh, leaving Arkansas Tech to finish with the 7-5 victory. 

Game 3 

The Storm were not happy about the Game 2 loss and decided to use that as fuel in Game 3. After an incredible performance inside the circle in Game 1, Janie Worthington got the start for the final game of the ATU series, keeping the Suns off the scoreboard in the first two innings. Southern Nazarene kicked off their fiery second inning when Mullendore reached home on a fielder's choice, putting the Storm ahead 1-0. Green added two more runs under SNU's name after cracking out a double that gave Morelock and Sundbye the trip home. 

Worthington made it difficult for ATU to get any offense going, leaving all the room for her teammates to work at the plate. Morelock added to the action in the fourth inning as she singled to left field to plate Mullendore once more. Green had the hot bat again, tripling down the right field line that allowed Morelock and Sundbye to trot home, putting SNU in the 6-0 lead. 

Arkansas Tech looked to avoid not having any runs on the scoreboard, hitting a double with just a single out on the board. Worthington worked her magic once more and kept ATU at just three total hits in the game moving into the bottom half of the fifth. 

Swearingen called the game with a walk-off double to right field, plating Oaks and Graysen Stanley for the final 8-0 run-rule victory. 

Worthington pitched another complete game for the Storm, recording four total strikeouts and allowing just three hits off the Tech bats. That marked her seventh win of the season with SNU. 

Both Green and Mullendore finished 2-2 at the plate, with Green recording four RBIs on her own. Swearingen went 2-3 at the plate and grabbed two RBIs for SNU. 

Up Next

Southern Nazarene will be back in action on Tuesday, February 27th for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader with Central Oklahoma.