BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Under rainy conditions in the opening round of the 2023 Great American Conference Softball Championship, Oklahoma Baptist fell 7-2 to Southern Nazarene on Thursday afternoon.
After a Crimson Storm (25-27, 13-19 GAC) grand slam early in the contest, the Bison (43-10, 28-5 GAC) couldn't find a rhythm to overcome the deficit.
SNU's Hannah Morales, who came into Thursday without a home run and batting .232, blasted a four-bagger over left field in the second inning to grant the opposition a 4-0 lead.
Freshly named GAC Pitcher of the Year, Kayleigh Jones hadn't given up a home run since a March 14 win over Ouachita Baptist.
Hoping to crawl out of the four-run hole, OBU found good fortune at the bottom of the third. Morgan Max started with a single before Kennedy Clark doubled to right field to bring around Max for the green and gold's first score of the game. However, SNU reclaimed the reins and retired the Bison with two runners left on base.
Over the next three innings, Oklahoma Baptist didn't register a hit while the Crimson Storm charted three connections.
Then in the seventh, Southern Nazarene's bats got hot again. SNU put up three runs on five hits to stretch their lead to six, 7-1. The Bison returned the favor in the bottom of the frame with a score on a Sammie Greene sacrifice fly that plated Sydney Adler.
However, that would be the extent of the OBU comeback, as a couple of forced fly-outs cemented their feat.
Jones gave up three earned runs and struck out five in a complete game of action. Jones allowed seven runs in total, the most she'd given up all season.
In the batter's box, Clark and Greene batted a runner in apiece while four others recorded hits.
Oklahoma Baptist looks to Monday's NCAA DII Softball Championships selection show where its postseason fate will be decided. The show is scheduled to air at 9 a.m. (CT). OBU was slotted sixth in the latest NCAA DII regional polls.
