Savage Storm Fall In Pitcher's Duel

DURANT, Okla. – Despite a complete game with 11 strikeouts from Scott Richards, Southeastern found itself on the wrong end of a 3-1 loss on Friday afternoon at The Ballpark in Durant in the Great American Conference opener against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
 
The loss drops the Savage Storm to 5-6 on the year and gets them off to an 0-1 start in GAC play heading into a Saturday double-header beginning at noon to complete the series.
 
Richards turned in his first complete game of the year but was saddled with his first loss after allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits with 11 strikeouts.  His strikeout mark is a season best for a Storm pitcher.
 
Kaleb Thomas turned in SE's only multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4, while Dylan Helms, Brandon Grimsley, Greg Husnander, Tim Hunter and Bryson Allen each had one hit.
 
Grimsley drove in the lone run which was scored by Helms.
 
That lone run was the first of the game for either team and came in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Helms opened with a double and moved to third on a Thomas single.  He would score one batter later on a Grimsley sac fly for a 1-0 lead.
 
NWOSU would answer though in the second and tie the game on an RBI double before taking a 2-1 lead on a throwing error,
 
The Rangers added one more run in the fourth inning on a squeeze bunt and that would account for all the scoring in the contest.
 
The Storm stranded six runners in scoring position in the contest and hit into four inning-ending double plays.