Softball Set to Battle SNU in Three-Game Series

DURANT, Okla. – The Southeastern softball team will look to make it back-to-back home series wins this weekend when Southern Nazarene visits the Southeastern Softball Field. SE and SNU open the series with a single game on Friday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon.
 
SERIES NOTES

• SE looks to avenge back-to-back series defeats to the Crimson Storm, who bested the blue and gold last season 2-1. Despite the recent success by Southern Nazarene, Southeastern leads the all-time series 39-23.

 
STORM REPORT
Southeastern took two of three against Henderson State to begin Great American Conference play, winning game one 6-3 and the rubber match 4-1. The Savage Storm compiled 22 hits, including three extra base knocks – two doubles and a triple. The pair of wins for the blue and gold moved them to 7-10 overall and 2-1 in conference action.
 
Lorryn Johnson recorded a hit in all three games to finish perfect at the plate, going 7-7 with two runs scored and two RBIs. The sophomore's big weekend swinging the bat pushed her to a .429 average on the year with 12 hits and five RBIs. Like Johnson, Iliana Olivares notched a hit in each game to finish with five hits against the Reddies. Olivares continues to lead the team with a .448 batting average and is second with 26 hits.
 
Susan Edwards paces the SE line with 27 hits in 63 at-bats for a .429 average and has scored 16 runs and batted in four. As a team, Southeastern has tallied 153 hits and 90 runs while batting .310, which ranks fourth-best in the conference. Emily Simmons is one of three players with ten or more RBIs for the blue and gold, with a team-best 17, and has totaled 17 hits in 53 at-bats.
 
E. Simmons and Alyson Malone picked up wins in the circle, pitching a complete game in their respective contests. Simmons' efforts move her to 2-3 on the year in the circle with 34.2 innings of work and 4.85 ERA. Malone (2-1) racked up seven more strikeouts in the 4-1 win over HSU during game three and leads the team with 33 punchouts and a 3.35 ERA. The SE pitching staff is 10^th in the GAC with a team ERA of 5.13, and opponents are hitting .307 with 149 hits and 92 strikeouts.
 
SCOUTING SOUTHERN NAZARENE
Southern Nazarene dropped its opening GAC to Southern Arkansas at home, winning one of three games. The Crimson Storm were outscored 18-1 in their two defeats to the Muleriders, while picking up a 9-4 win in game two. SNU holds a 6-9 overall record and is 1-2, heading into just its second true road matchup this season.
 
The Crimson Storm uses a one-two punch in the circle, as Olivia Hernandez and Baylee Sales have both thrown 31.1 innings. Hernandez leads the team with a 2.46 ERA in nine appearances, while Sales is 3-1 with a 2.68 earned run average and leads the team with 29 strikeouts. Kira Taber is SNU's biggest bat in the lineup with five doubles and three home runs for ten hits on a .370 average.