BETHANY, Okla. - Southern Nazarene hosted the Bulldogs of Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs for a three-game conference series. The two squads met Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader, as each managed to take one game apiece, setting up a deciding game on Sunday afternoon.

Game 1

The Crimson Storm (8-14, 3-5 GAC) collected 10 hits and used a four-run sixth inning to pull away from the Bulldogs (4-17,1-7 GAC ), while Baylee Sales delivered a dominant complete-game performance in the circle.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings as Sales and SWOSU starter Lily Barfield matched each other early. Southern Nazarene threatened in the second and third innings, putting runners in scoring position, but the Bulldogs escaped each jam to keep the contest tied.

The Storm finally broke through in the fourth inning. Britlyn Tripp reached and later scored on a sacrifice bunt from Ella Sottile to give SNU a 1-0 lead. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Bailey Nettles to score, extending the lead to 2-0.

SWOSU answered in the sixth, loading the bases before Skyla McPhillips delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sales regrouped quickly, recording two key outs to prevent further damage.

SNU responded with its biggest inning of the day in the bottom half of the sixth. Nettles started the rally with a single and stolen base before Sottile drove her in with an RBI single. Adyson Gaddis followed with a pinch-hit RBI single, and the Storm added two more runs on an RBI from Eden Anderson and an RBI-single by Presley Brott to stretch the lead to 6-1.

Sales closed the door in the seventh to secure the win, tossing a complete game while allowing just five hits and one run. She struck out nine and walked two in the victory.

Nettles led the Storm offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance and two runs scored, while Anderson and Brott each added RBI hits. Sottile also drove in two runs for Southern Nazarene as the Storm capitalized on their opportunities late.

Game 2

The Crimson Storm struck first but could not contain a five-run seventh inning from the Bulldogs, who pulled away late to split the doubleheader.

Southern Nazarene wasted no time getting on the board in the opening inning. Eden Anderson doubled to left field and moved to third on a wild pitch before Presley Brott brought her home with an RBI groundout to give the Storm a 1-0 lead.

Southwestern answered in the second inning as Kennedi Caine delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. The Bulldogs added another run in the third on a wild pitch, pushing SWOSU ahead 2-1.

The Bulldogs extended the lead in the fourth inning to make it 3–1. Southern Nazarene threatened in the fifth as Julia Lopez and Ella Sottile both recorded hits, but the Storm left runners stranded.

SWOSU broke the game open in the seventh inning. The Bulldogs strung together five runs on five hits and took advantage of a defensive miscue to stretch the lead to 8-1 heading into the final half inning.

The Storm responded with a late push in the bottom of the seventh. Kennedy Dodson delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to score Brenna Choate, and Libby Thompson followed with a two-run single to bring Southern Nazarene within 8-4. The rally continued with additional baserunners, but SWOSU was able to record the final out to end the game.

Anderson led the Storm with a double, while Sottile, Lopez, and Dodson each added hits during the late comeback effort. Southern Nazarene finished with eight hits in the contest.

Next Up

The Storm will return to face the Bulldogs in the series finale on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 pm at Tere Webber Field.