Softball Splits Series-Opening Doubleheader

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southeastern spit a Saturday afternoon doubleheader on the road against Ouachita Baptist, dropping the opener 4-3 in nine innings before turning the tables in the nightcap with a 9-0 run-rule victory in Arkadelphia, Ark.
 
The split moves the Savage Storm to 17-14 overall on the season and 9-7 in Great American Conference play with the series finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
 
In game two, Gracie Ore, Iliana Olivares, and Kamryn Rackley each had two hits, while Sage Harlow, Ananda Garrison, Kasey Simmons, and Sammi Dutton added a hit each.
 
Harlow, Olivares, and Dutton each posted two RBI, with Garrison and Rackley driving in one each.
 
Amberlyn Walsworth got the start and tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering four hits over five innings while striking out six in the win.
 
Olivares put the Storm on the board in game two with a two-runs double before Garrison followed with a sac fly to stretch the lead to 3-0.
 
Kamryn Rackley would add an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0, before two runs came home on a Dutton RBI fielder's choice.
 
Harlow would drive in one final run to push the Storm lead to 7-0 after one inning.
 
A Dutton double in the third would drive in Rackley and a Harlow sac fly later in the inning would push the lead to 9-0 in the third, and that margin would hold up as the final in a run-rule shortened contest.
 
In game one, Sage Harlow put together a 3-for-5 outing with an RBI to pace the Storm offense.
 
Kady Fryrear, Sabetha Sands, Ananda Garrison, and Bailey Beard would each log a hit, while Sands tacked on an RBI.
 
Reese Taylor got the start and tossed a complete game in taking the loss, tossing 8.2 innings and allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts.
 
SE jumped in front in the top of the third inning as Sands singled home Ore followed by Taylor scoring on a wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead.
 
The Tigers would answer in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2.
 
Regulation would come and go with the score remaining tied at 2-2 and reach the ninth inning before Harlow would single home Beard to give the Storm a 3-2 lead.
 
It would not hold up though as OBU would get back-to-back RBI singles with two outs to hand SE a 4-3 loss.