BENTONVILLE, Ark. – The Crimson Storm's season came to a close Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the Great American Conference Tournament. No. 5 seed Southern Nazarene fell to No. 4 Harding, bringing its 2026 campaign to an end.
The Lady Bisons (28-22, 22-11 GAC) wasted no time striking first, jumping ahead with a two-run home run in the opening inning against SNU (27-29, 17-16 GAC). Harding added to its lead in the second inning after a Crimson Storm error allowed another run to score.
Harding continued to build momentum in the third, pushing across another run on an RBI single. Southern Nazarene searched for an answer and broke through in the fourth when Presley Brott lined a two-run single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Harding answered in the fifth with a solo home run to extend its lead back to three. From there, both teams traded scoreless frames, but the Crimson Storm were unable to mount a late rally, falling 5-2.
All-GAC honoree Eden Anderson led the way offensively for SNU with two hits, while Brott drove in both Crimson Storm runs.
With the loss, Southern Nazarene's season comes to a close as the team now turns its focus to the offseason and preparation for the 2027 campaign.
