CLAREMORE, Okla. – Southern Nazarene continued to make noise in the Central Region Tournament Friday afternoon, knocking off both No. 6 Washburn and No. 3 Central Oklahoma to move on to a rematch with No. 2 Rogers State for a hopeful two games Saturday. 

Game 1 
The pitcher's dual was in effect early between the Storm's (40-16, 25-8 GAC) Janie Worthington and Washburn's (37-17, 17-9 MIAA) Jaycee Ginter, each delivering two very quick first and second innings comprised of only one single between the two squads. 

Washburn was able to challenge the Storm in the third with a walk and single to put two on, but the Storm defense avoided their potential lead gain by a ground out and a sac bunt. The Storm got to work after they retired the side, igniting the scoring thanks to a Hailey Evans double and an Emma Swearingen single that brought in two runs for the 2-0 lead. Mullendore looked to continue the fire, but her fly-out turned over the inning with SNU grabbing the first lead. 

Worthington was not making things easy for the Ichabods at the plate, sending in strikeout after strikeout while forcing Washburn to settle for multiple ground otus over the next four innings. Remaining with their 2-0 gap, SNU had a few bright spots on offense over the next few innings, but no plays were able to send runners home, leaving a potential Washburn comeback in sight. 

The pressure was on in the top of the seventh as Washburn was left one final frame to overcome their two-run deficit. Worthington struck out the first batter to give SNU the one-out insurance, but the Ichabods responded with a double to put one on. Washburn reached their second out by a ground out, inching the Storm closer to victory. Washburn stayed hopeful and launched out a single that allowed the second base runner to make it home to come within one of the lead. 

With two outs on the board, Southern Nazarene avoided the potential tying run, forcing another ground out to claim the final 2-1 victory over Washburn. 

Game 2 
SNU had a quick turnaround after their first victory of the tournament, matching up with the No.3 Bronchos (43-14, 21-5 MIAA) who went 2-1 against the Storm during the regular season. Unfortunately for the three seed, Southern Nazarene ended with victory in the most exciting way possible, by a Hailey Evans walk-off grand slam that secured the 5-4 victory. 
The Bronchos had beaten Washburn in their first game of the tournament, but lost by two to host Rogers State in Game 2, itching for a second win to stay alive in the Central Region. 

The Bronchos were the first to put a score on the board in the opening inning by a wild pitch. After a few walks, starting pitcher Katelyn Woodard sent in the final out by a strikeout to put SNU at-bat. 

After a Kenedi Morelock double put one on a base, Emma Swearingen awarded her the trip home with a double of her own to tie the score at 1-1. 

A quick second inning between both teams prompted an eventful third, especially for the Bronchos who bumped up to a 3-1 lead after an SNU fielding error allowed them to advance two runners home.

That was the last of the scoring for the next three innings and SOuthern Nazarene struggled to find their momentum at the plate, still trailing by two moving into the sixth inning. UCO continued to creep away from SNU on offense, gaining a burst from two singles and finally a sac fly that scored one to move up to a 4-1 lead. 

Starting UCO pitcher Jordyn Pipkin kept delivering the heat from the circle, sending another quick three up and three down inning the way of the Storm to move into the final inning. Maddie Southerland was sent into the game to relieve Woodard and left the lone UCO runner stranded on base, forcing three quick outs to put SNU back at the plate for the bottom of the seventh. 

A Sydney Sundbye single and McKayla Franks reach on a3 UCO error gave SNU a burst as they looked to climb back from their deficit. After a Mikayla Oaks ground out, Emma Green's single filled the bases and it was up to Hailey Evans at the plate to make the magic happen. 

Evans did exactly that, blasting the walk-off grand slam to award her team the final 5-4 victory over the Bronchos to appear in the hopeful two-game Championship round. 

Up Next

Southern Nazarene will face off again with host Rogers State for a 1:00 PM start time on Saturday. The Hillcats defeated the Storm in the first round 7-0. If Rogers State wins, they win the title and Southern Nazarene will be eliminated from the tournament. If SNU wins, another game between the two will be played the same day at 3:30 PM. SNU is also the lowest seed in postseason DII to play for the "potential" title game, making this a historic moment for Brian Madden's squad.