CLAREMORE, Okla. - Southern Nazarene faced off against Upper Iowa for the final games of the Rogers State Festival. The Crimson Storm met the Peacocks for a doubled header as UIU edged out SNU 3-2 before the Storm responded with a 6-2 victory to finish off the weekend.
Game 1
The first game started off strong for the Crimson Storm (3-5), as
Abby Wood provided an early spark in the first inning with a solo home run to right field, giving SNU a 1-0 lead. Southern Nazarene kept the Peacocks (1-7) at bay in the early innings, but Upper Iowa answered in the fifth with a two-run single up the middle, putting the Peacocks ahead 2-1.
The Storm responded with a run in the top of the sixth, as
Kira Taber doubled to left center to bring
Kinley Brand across the plate, tying the game at 2-2. However, Upper Iowa struck again in the bottom of the sixth with a timely RBI single, driving in the go-ahead run giving the Peacocks a 3-2 advantage.
Southern Nazarene couldn't find the answer in the final inning, as Upper Iowa's defense held firm to seal the victory.
Presley Brott,
Abby Wood, and
Macy Stewart each had a hit for the Storm.
Game 2
Southern Nazarene bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader against Upper Iowa, earning a 6-2 victory to split the day's action.
The Crimson Storm jumped on the board early with a five-run first inning.
Eden Anderson reached on a fielder's choice bunt that allowed
Abby Wood to score.
Presley Brott then singled up the middle to bring Anderson and Wood home, and
Ciena Perez followed with a three-run homer to left field, giving SNU a commanding 5-0 lead.
Upper Iowa answered in the fourth with a run of its own to cut the lead to 5-1. The Peacocks added another in the fifth on an RBI single to make it 5-2.
However, Southern Nazarene responded in the sixth.
Kira Taber singled to left, advanced on a stolen base, and came around to score on a wild pitch, pushing the lead back to 6-2.
From there, SNU's defense and pitching kept Upper Iowa at bay.
Olivia Hernandez, who picked up the win, allowed just two runs while striking out five in her 5.1 innings of work.
Addison Underwood closed things out in the seventh, securing the win for the Storm.
Perez's three-run homer highlighted the offense, while Anderson, Brott, and Taber each had key contributions.
Next Up
The Storm will hit the road to Branson, Missouri for the DII Branson Battle. They will take on Maryville and Missouri Western on Friday, February 13 and Quincy and Pittsburg State on Saturday, February 14.
