 |  |
"We've stayed relaxed and that's because of the hard work and dues that this team has put in during the year," said SNU Head Coach Tere Webber. "When you're not pressing, you can see the ball better. I don't think it's one thing in particular outside of confidence and staying relaxed."
SNU also had a one-hitter through five innings from freshman Maci-Brooke Lambert. Lambert struck out five and walked just two in five innings of work and moved to 14-6 with the win.
The Crimson Storm went 19-for-40 at the plate and were led by Kristina Forest and Aubrey Jones who each went 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Forest also scored three runs while Jones scored two.
"When those two are hitting like that it makes life a little sweeter," said Webber. "There have been times where different parts of the line up have had hot streaks and you just hope it all comes together late in the year."
Kylie Lang went 2-for-3 with three run scored while Kara Crawford went 2-for-4. Amy Madden also went 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
It was Forest who got the Storm going early when she ripped a two-run home run to left center, her fourth of the year, to put the Storm on top 2-0. Southern Nazarene added another in the first with a single through the right side by Madden to lead 3-0.
The Storm took a 5-0 lead in the third on a double down the left field line that scored Lang and Katie Turner. SNU tacked on another run in the fifth to lead 6-0 when Madden doubled down the left field line to score Forest. Southern Nazarene broke the game open in the sixth with a six-run inning to lead 12-0 and then held off a late charge from Texas Wesleyan who scored five in the sixth and two in the seventh.
That now sets the stage for a winner-take-all game with Cal State San Marcos, Saturday, at 5:30 p.m. The winner of that game will advance out of pool play and into bracket play.