SE Earns Split at the Cherokee Nation D2 Festival

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Southeastern uses a big second inning against Northeastern State to split the day at the Cherokee Nation D2 Festival. The Savage Storm fell in heartbreaking defeat to No. 7 Central Oklahoma, who walked off the blue and gold, but SE bounced back in the second game of the day versus NSU to win 9-6.
 
GAME ONE: NO. 7 UCO 10, SE 8
SE fell behind 1-0 in the first inning to the Bronchos, but would explode for five runs in the second to take the lead. A leadoff walk from Laci Larsen helped set up an RBI single by Susan Edwards to plate Larsen from third. Iliana Olivares brought in the next run on the following at-bat before India McMurray stepped up to the plate and sent a three-run home run over the rightfield wall, 5-1.
 
UCO answered back in the bottom half third, adding three more runs to its score to tie the game 5-5. Both sides posted three runs in the fourth to remain tied at 8-8. The Storm took advantage of a pair of passed balls from the Bronchos and a groundout by Emily Simmons to score all three of their runs.
 
The scoring slowed down in the fifth and sixth, as both sets of pitchers posted back-to-back scoreless innings. The blue and gold looked to break the deadlock at the top of the seventh with a pair of base runners, but were unable to find a breakthrough hit. UCO would find the decisive hit in the bottom half, scoring two runs on a walk-off homer to win.
 
Edwards was perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Channing Sarver recorded two doubles and two runs scored. Trinity Oden fell to 2-2 on the year, throwing the final 3.0 frames, while Alyson Malone got the start and went 2.2 innings with four runs allowed on five hits.
 
GAME TWO: SE 9, NSU 6
Southeastern and Northeastern State trade a run in the first inning, before the blue and gold surge ahead in the second, 8-1, behind a seven-run inning. E. Simmons brought in the first two runs on a double roped into centerfield, and the Storm would have three runs come in off NSU errors, 7-1. Edwards finished off the scoring in the second with a single to plate Sarver, who reached earlier in the frame on a fielder's choice.
 
However, the Riverhawks would answer back, scoring one run in the fourth and four in the sixth to make it 9-6. Southeastern turned to Lindsey Dubberly in the circle for the final 1.2 innings after Simmons worked the first 5.1 frames. Dubberly allowed zero hits and struck out three to earn her first save this season and secure the win for Southeastern.
 
Olivares led the SE lineup with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while Edwards, E. Simmons and Sarver each recorded two hits. E. Simmons earned her first win in the circle, throwing 5.1 frames with seven strikeouts and six runs allowed on six hits.
 
Southeastern (5-7) concludes action at the Cherokee Nation D2 Festival with two games on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. against No. 17 Missouri Southern, followed by Washburn at 1:30 p.m.