Olson Grand Slam Helps Lift SE to 9-8 Win over NSU

SEMINOLE, Okla. – Southeastern scored seven unanswered runs, bolstered by Carter Olson's game-tying grand slam to pick up a season-opening 9-8 victory over Northeastern State on Tuesday afternoon in Seminole, Okla.
 
The win gets the Savage Storm to a 1-0 start to the season heading into a trip to the UCO Festival in Edmond, Okla., Feb. 6-8.
 
Olson collected five RBI in the game on a pair of hits, while Payton Poole and Alex Showalter each chipped in two hits as well.
 
Isaac Villa, Ryan Kirk, Easton Ford, Jacob Ambriz, and Jax Heid each collected hits, with Kirk driving in two runs and Showalter adding an RBI.
 
Estevan Fonseca picked up the first win of the year for the pitching staff in relief, tossing the final four innings, scattering two hits and striking out seven without allowing a run.
 
Marcus Mott got the start and lasted an inning, allowing four runs on three hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
 
Zach Andrews tossed an inning in releif of Mott and allowed a run on a hit.
 
Colton Clawson followed with three innings of work, allowing three runs on seven hits with three K's.
  
After Mott worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, Southeastern would score the first run of the day in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Taking advantage of a Villa walk followed by a stolen base, he would come around and score on a wild pitch and error by the catcher, taking a 1-0 lead.
 
NSU took advantage of four walks and four hits in the top of the second to put up five runs and mount a 5-1 lead midway through two innings.
 
The RiverHawks tacked on a run in the top of the third and Southeastern answered in the bottom half of the inning as Olson collected the first hit of the season, doubling home JJ Bush to cut into the deficit, 6-2.
 
Northeastern State put up two runs in the top half of the fourth, stretching its lead to 8-2 midway through the frame.
 
Kirk cut into the deficit with a two-run single up the middle, closing the gap to 8-4 through four innings.
 
Neither team found the plate in the fifth, but Southeastern made its big swing in the bottom of the sixth as it loaded the bases with one out for Olson who connected on a grand slam to knot the game at 8-8 through five innings.
 
A Showalter double in the bottom of the seventh put the Storm in front 9-8 by driving in Payton Poole which would hold up as the final tally.