YUKON, Okla. – Southern Nazarene competed in their last non-conference series of the season, hosting Arlington Baptist at Yukon High School for a 5 p.m. doubleheader. The Storm (26-11, 15-4 GAC) tacked on two more wins on Tuesday under the lights, cruising through the Patriots (6-26) by nine runs in the first game and five in the second. 


Game 1

After Maddie Southerland sent a scoreless opening frame the way of the Patriots, Hailey Evans followed with a huge lead-off solo blast over the center field fence, putting the Storm ahead 1-0 early. After getting on base by a fielder's choice and then later stealing second, Mikayla Oaks was able to trot home after Kristen Mullendore singled to center. Arlington Baptist was able to work out of the jam to halt the Storm at two runs moving into the second inning. 

The Patriots saw a bit of light after a Storm error and hit by pitch, but Southerland managed to achieve the final out before they kept the fire going. Emma Swearingen launched a triple to right field that was able to score Mikayla Franks, who previously singled and found second on a passed ball. An Emma Green hit by pitch and a Hailey Evans walk loaded the bases, setting up Kenedi Morelock's sac fly that scored Swearingen for the 4-0 lead. An Oaks ground out allowed all runners to advance, pushing Green home for the 5-0 gap before ABU was able to retire the side. 

A wild pitch and a double from Arlington Baptist allowed one to run across home in the top of the third, cutting SNU's lead down to four runs. Southerland quickly worked to stop the Patriots at that single run, moving her team into the bottom of the third. The Storm had quite an explosive third inning, starting with a Green single to center field that scored pinch runner Noa Dodson. Hailey Evans could not be stopped, stepping up to the plate to launch another bomb over the right field fence, tacking on three RBIs to shoot SNU to a 9-1 lead just before the side was retired. 

Both squads didn't see much in the fourth inning aside from Maddie Southerland closing the frame with three Patriots left on base, keeping them at just a single run through three and half innings of play. Working with two outs under their name in the bottom fourth, Emma Swearingen tacked on SNU's 10th run of the evening with a solo shot over the center field fence, the third home run of the contest. With Ashley Larson inside the circle to pitch the final inning, she defended the Storm's lead by forcing three ground outs, helping Southern Nazarene clinch the 10-1 victory in Game 1 of the doubleheader. 

Evans was electric at the plate with a perfect 2-2 finish and two home runs for four RBIs. Swearingen was also a perfect 2-2, grabbing a homerun herself, good for two RBIs. 

Southerland recorded her fourth win of the season with five strikeouts through four innings pitched. 

Game 2 
Olivia Hernandez got the nod for the start in the circle and delivered a quick scoreless frame the way of the Patriots. Southern Nazarene jumped out in front fast in the bottom of the first with three consecutive singles from Mullendore, Marlee Warden, and Maddie Riley, combining for four RBIs for a 4-0 lead. 

Hernandez continued to throw the heat from the circle as ABU had to face another scoreless inning. Sydney Sundbye made it a five-run game with a long double over to right field which plated Peyton Norvelle. That was all SNU was able to get in the second inning before the Patriots retired the side. 

The two teams battled through the next two and half scoreless innings before the Storm rekindled their fire in the bottom fifth off of a Swearingen double that shot Sundbye home for 6-0 gap. Allyson Haessly got a ground out that pushed Kinley Brand to score and SNU was soon ahead 7-0, moving closer and closer to the run rule. Unfortunately, Southern Nazarene suffered their final out of the inning at the plate, forced to play through another inning. 

The Patriots were able to lessen the damage in the top of the sixth with a high flying ball that was unable to be caught by the Storm, sending one up a base and one runner home to cut the lead to six. ABU followed with another run-scoring triple, scoring their most runs of the day with two now to trail SNU 7-2 after Hernandez delivered them their final strikeout. SNU was unable to respond with any sort of scoring in that inning, resulting in the seventh inning of play with a five-run advantage. 

Ashley Larson returned to the circle for SNU and helped cut ABU off at a double and a sac bunt, forcing them to settle for a pop up and a ground out to seal SNU's winning fate by a final 7-2 score. 

Sundbye had a terrific evening at the plate with a perfect 3-3 with an RBI and two doubles. 

Hernandez was a batter's worst nightmare in the second game, pitching through six innings while recording 14 total strikeouts. 

Up Next 

Southern Nazarene will return to GAC play on the road as they head to Southeastern Oklahoma State for a Friday, April 5th single game at 3 p.m. followed by a noon doubleheader the following Saturday on April 6th.