MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The Storm started their Spring Break in Magnolia, Arkansas as they took on the No. 8 ranked Muleriders of Southern Arkansas for a three game conference series. The Muleriders dominated the first two games, but the Storm refused the sweep grabbing an extra inning win in game three.

Game 1

Southern Nazarene faced a tall task in the Mulriders Sunday evening. Southern Arkansas opened the contest making a statement as they struck out the side. The Storm then took the diamond on defense as Freshman Tyler Reed made his first collegiate start for the Storm on the mound. Reed settled in as he just allowed one hit that plated one run in the first.

The Storm evened the score in the top of the second after a double from Chase Hudson brought home one run. SNU made a few pitching changes in the second and looked to hold off the SAU offense but struggled to keep their bats quiet. The Muleriders tacked on four runs off of a grand slam to pull ahead 5-1.

SNU's offense was quieted once more as Southern Arkansas retired the side to hold their lead. Two home runs and two triples proved to be very costly as the Muleriders plated five more runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 10-1.

Jacob Martinez led off the top of the fourth with a double in the right-center gap, but he was left stranded as SAU shut down the Storm's momentum. Parker Presley stepped onto the mound as he retired the side, handing Southern Arkansas a scoreless frame.

The Muleriders continued to make things difficult at the plate for the Storm as they delivered another scoreless inning of work. SAU plated one more run on a double in the right-center gap to lead 11-1 after five.

Southern Arkansas' Jermey Adorno entered his sixth inning of work on the mound, retiring the side once again. Levi Graham took over on the mound for the Storm as he kept the hot Mulerider bats at bay in the bottom of the sixth.

The Storm had one final chance to avoid run-rule territory, but Adorno continued his success on the mound holding off any chance of an SNU comeback leaving SAU to claim the 11-1 run-rule victory over Southern Nazarene.

Game 2

SNU looked to even the series with the Muleriders during the first game of the doubleheader. Another dominant performance on the mound for Southern Arkansas made this a tough task for the Storm.

SAU quickly retired the first three Storm batters to begin game two of the series. The Muleriders picked up right where they left off offensively, notching a five-run first inning. 

The SNU bats were silenced once more as the Muleriders handed the Storm another scoreless frame. Jacob Martinez took the mound for his second inning of work before Gabriel Sanhez took over. He held SAU to just two runs in the second inning as they extended their lead to 7-0. 

Another quick inning for the Storm at the plate allowed the Muleriders to take over on offense. SAU tacked on one more run on a single to push their lead to eight. 

The Storm was able to get a few runners on as they took advantage of a hit by pitch, an error, and a single from Chase Hudson, but it was not enough to plate a run. SAU continued their scoring streak scoring a single run in the bottom of the fourth to lead 9-0.

The Muleriders continued to keep the SNU bats quiet as they hit a solo home run to lead by 10. SAU then collected two more runs in the sixth off of a triple and a sac fly. 

Trying to avoid another run-rule Southern Nazarene plated one run thanks to a single from Max Dias. That would be all the Storm offense could come up with leaving the Muleriders to claim the run-rule and the series 12-1.

Game 3

SNU looked to avoid the sweep as they took on the Muleriders for the final game of the series. The Storm was able to get a few base runners on in the top of the first but Southern Arkansas was able to leave them stranded to keep SNU off the board. A few Muleriders made it on base after a walk and hit by pitch, but starting pitcher Patrick Hine worked out of the jam getting a ground ball double play and a strikeout to end the inning. 

SAU continued to dominate on the mound in the top of the second as they struck out the side to get back to the plate. Hine was able to hold the Muleriders to one hit and a scoreless frame to keep the score at 0-0 after two.

Both squads retired the side in the third to keep the contest scoreless. The Storm got two runners aboard, but they were once again stranded as SAU worked out of the jam. The Muleriders were able to tack on one run from a single to take a 1-0 lead after four.

The Storm got two runners aboard after singles from Tucker LeMay and Dax Edmonds, but SAU shut down the SNU offense there, keeping them off the board once again. Hine continued his work on the mound striking out the side to end the fifth inning. 

The bats were kept quiet once again for SNU in the top of the sixth. The same went for Southern Arkansas as Hine retired the side once more to keep them from adding onto their lead. 

The Storm then had one final chance to even the score to keep the game alive. The Muleriders brought in their closer as Trey Orman pinch hit for the Storm, singling through the right side to put a runner on. A ground ball from Edmonds allowed the Storm to tie the score 1-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. Hine was able to hold off the Mulerider offense sending the ballgame into extra innings.

The two squads entered a pitcher's duel as they both struggled to break the 1-1 tie. Oliver Wilson was able to find a way on after a bunt single in the top of the eleventh. He then scored on a double down the left field line from Colby Entwistle that allowed the Storm to take the lead. Landon Kinder was able to finish off the Muleriders on the mound and secure the 2-1 victory over Southern Arkansas.

Next Up

The Storm will continue their stint Tuesday, March 19 for a midweek single game at Mid-America Christian. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. in Oklahoma City.