BETHANY, Okla. – The "Battle of the Best" was in full effect Tuesday afternoon as Southern Nazarene hosted the GAC top-seeded Oklahoma Baptist for an afternoon doubleheader, the second time these two teams met this season. 
Earlier this season the Bison (29-11, 21-3 GAC) dominated the Storm (30-12, 19-5 GAC) by a 10-0 run-rule victory in Shawnee to open the series. SNU felt the sting of the loss heading into Tuesday's doubleheader, playing the Bison close the entire opening game until OKBU was able to sneak away by three runs in extra innings. Southern Nazarene decided a sweep was not in the cards and fended the Bison off all the way until the final inning, grabbing the single run victory to achieve their 30th season win. 
Not only did the Storm knock off the best team in the GAC, they also achieved their highest win count in a single season with 30 wins, the most since joining Division II and the most in the GAC so far. 

Game 1 

Game 1 was chalked full of excitement as the Storm erased a five-run deficit to send the game into extra innings with the seven-seven tie. Unfortunately, the top-ranked Bison were able to defend their standing with a three-run eighth inning while forcing three quick ground outs on the Storm. Snagging the final 10-7 victory to open the series. 

Southern Nazarene was the first to grab a run after Emma Green's single sent Sydney Sundbye home for 1-0 lead. Olivia Hernandez got the nod for the circle start and did an excellent job holding the Bison to just a single hit through the first three innings. 
Oklahoma Baptist was able to knot the game up at one a piece with a single of their own for an RBI. Reigning GAC pitcher of the year Kayleigh Jones kept the Storm quiet after their first run in the second inning and opened the game up for her team in the fifth with a massive five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run to help rocket their lead to 5-1. 

A Hailey Evans ground out in the bottom fifth cut their deficit down to three runs, but the hot-hitting Bison continued to find ways to bring in the runs. Another Bison single and a Storm error plated two more and they soon controlled a six-run lead after the top of the sixth. A Kenedi Morelock single followed by Liana Heshiki reaching on an error put the Storm within two runs after the side was retired. 

Maddie Southerland soon took over inside the circle and helped to keep the Bison scoreless in the top of the seventh, leaving the game wide open for the Storm to achieve the tie or the go-ahead run. Just as SNU had hoped, Green ignited the offense with another single with loaded bases, cutting the Bison lead down to just one run. Hailey Evans followed with a game-tying run as she reached on a fielder's choice with the bases juiced, sending Mikayla Franks home for the 7-7 tie. 

Morelock was up to the plate to keep the frenzy going, but had to suffer a ground out with two outs already on the board, sending the contest into extra innings. 

Oklahoma Baptist was not ready to give the Storm any momentum as the eighth inning began, singling to Hernandez inside the circle that was able to plate one. Ashley Larson came in to relieve Hernandez and was able to deliver a quick strikeout for the first out on the board. OKBU found a groove once more and cracked out another single to center field that sent two more runners home, achieving the 10-7 lead before reaching their final out. 

 Maggie Place took over for Jones inside the circle and quickly put the Storm away by three quick ground outs, sealing their winning fate by a final score of 10-7. 

Game 2 

Both squads struggled to find an edge in the second game as the score sat at 0-0 through the first three innings, with a huge help from SNU pitcher Katelyn Woodard and OKBU pitcher Maggie Place who got the game going with quick innings. 

Oklahoma Baptist finally ended the cold spell with a two-run fourth inning, powered by a single and a ground out for two RBIs. The Bison's scoring sparked a fire in the Storm after the side was retired, beginning with Morelock's triple to lead off the inning. A SAC bunt by Oaks followed by Sundbye reaching on an error allowed the Storm to tie the contest at two-all with two outs on the board. Looking to get another run, Franks tried to put down a hit, but OKBU was able to field it for the final out to end the frame, leaving the score at 2-2. 

Janie Worthington took over for Woodard to kick off the top of the fifth and she kept the Bison with their two runs moving into the bottom fifth. The SNU offense dealt with the same fate in the bottom half of the inning as they suffered two ground outs and a line out in three consecutive pitches. 
Worthington and the Storm defense continued to make things difficult for the Bison as they handed them another scoreless frame. Southern Nazarene quickly took advantage in the bottom sixth as Oaks put down a single to right field with two runners on and Morelock was able to find home for the go-ahead run at 3-2. Now with two outs under their belt, SNU looked to Macy Stewart to keep the momentum going, but her fly out was the last of the inning, keeping the Storm with the 3-2 advantage. 

It was up to Worthington and the Storm defense to defend their one-run lead with the Bison heading to their final at-bats. OKBU came out looking for a hit to erase the single run deficit, but back to back fly outs gave the Storm a bit of cushion. A walk was able to land one Bison member on base, but the final line out sealed the victory for the Storm by a final 3-2 score, avenging their Game 1 loss to split the doubleheader. 

Worthingotn recorded her 16th win of the season, grabbing two strikeouts and did not allow a single hit in the last three innings. 

Morelock led the offense with a 2-3 finish and two total runs. Oaks led in RBIs with two in her 1-2 finish. 

Up Next

Southern Nazarene will head back on the road for a three game series with Henderson State, beginning with a single game Friday, April 12th at 5 p.m. followed by a doubleheader the following Saturday starting at noon.