BETHANY, Okla. – Southern Nazarene Softball took on a tall task over the weekend, suiting up against the 19th nationally ranked Southern Arkansas Muleriders. The Storm (19-10, 10-3 GAC) took it to the Muleirders (18-7, 9-3 GAC) in all three games in Bethany, highlighted by two huge shutouts in Saturday's doubleheader.


Game 1

The Storm surprised the Muleirders early in the first inning, brought on by a Mikayla Oaks single and a Southern Arkansas error that allowed Kinley Brand and Oaks to cross home for a quick 2-0 lead. 
Olivia Hernandez was awarded the starting job inside the circle for the Storm, keeping the Muleriders scoreless through the first few innings. SAU was finally able to see some action in the third innings from a walk with bases loaded, cutting SNU's lead down to 2-1. 

Emma Swearingen took no time responding in the bottom half of the inning with a powerful double that plated Oaks again for the 3-1 gap. 

Southern Arkansas continued to find an edge at the plate, this time, with a double of their own to grab a single RBI to trail now 3-2. Hernandez quickly retired the side to erase their chance of grabbing the go-ahead run, keeping SNU with the single run lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. 

The offense grew quiet for both squads, largely contributed by Janie Worthington who kept Hernandez' hard work alive for the last three innings of play. 

Southern Nazarene's 3-2 lead prevailed through the final inning as they were able to grab the Game 1 stumping of Southern Arkansas. 

Game 2 

The Storm's high spirits carried over into the first game of the Saturday doubleheader as they completely shocked the Muleriders with a 9-0 shutout. Katelyn Woodard was given the go inside the circle and she delivered, allowing just four hits while tacking on five strikeouts. 

Woodard's performance left all the room for the Storm offense to run wild as Hailey Evans singled for two RBIs in the third. Liana Heshiki followed suit as she reached first on a throwing error to score Noa Dodson for the quick 3-0 lead. 

Southern Nazarene kept their fire in the fourth after more singles from Heshiki, Oaks, and Swearingen, combining for four RBIs to skyrocket their lead to 7-0. Mullendore added to the action with a sac-fly that gave Oaks another run and a Syndbye single allowed Maddie Riley the trip home, and SNU quickly stretched their lead to nine runs. 

Southern Arkansas searched for a way to escape the run rule, but Woodard continued to deliver the heat from the circle, forcing the Mulelriders to settle for pop ups and a ground out to reach the final out of the fifth inning. Southern Nazarene was able to record another win over Southern Arkansas by a final 9-0 score to improve to 2-0 in the series. 

Game 3 

Game 3 featured a pitching duel between Worthington and Sydney Ward, both delivering out after out to keep the offenses at bay. 

Sydney Sundbye made all the difference in the second inning, singling to center to plate Franks for the 1-0 lead. 

Over the next few frames, batters faced strike out after strike out from both squads, keeping Southern Nazarene alive with the 1-0 gap. The Storm saw a chance to grow their lead in the sixth from an Oaks sac bunt, Ward eventually retired the side, keeping SAU's hopes up with the one-run deficit. 

Looking to put runners on to hopefully erase the deficit, Southern Arkansas was left to settle for a foul out and two consecutive fly outs in the seventh, sealing SNU's winning fate with the final 1-0 score, securing the series sweep for the Storm on their home diamond. 

Up Next 

Southern Nazarene will be on the road for two consecutive series, starting with Arkansas Monticello March 22nd-23rd for a doubleheader that Friday at 1 p.m and a noon single game that Saturday.