Kendra Pierce went 2-for-3 for OC, but the Lady Eagles fell 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader against Southern Nazarene.

BETHANY, Okla. (April 5, 2012) – Three Southern Nazarene pitchers limited Oklahoma Christian to three runs in two games as the Crimson Storm swept OC 3-2 and 10-1 on Thursday in a softball doubleheader at Cypert Athletic Complex.

OC (26-12, 7-9 Sooner Athletic Conference) had fallen out of the NAIA rankings this week for the first time all season and the Lady Eagles hoped a good showing against No. 21 SNU (26-12, 11-3) would vault them back into the top 25. But instead, OC struggled to record key hits, leaving 16 runners stranded on base in 12 innings of play.

OC starter Ashley Paxton (9-7) had one bad inning in the opener, surrendering all three SNU runs in the bottom of the second after the Lady Eagles had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning on Courtney Starr's RBI single. An OC error prolonged the inning and Jill Clemence made the Lady Eagles pay for the miscue, hitting a two-run double down the left-field line to put SNU ahead 3-1.

Kendra Pierce went 2-for-3 for OC. Her run-scoring single in the fifth pulled the Lady Eagles within 3-2, but SNU reliever Kaci Crawford (9-6) shut down the Lady Eagles the rest of the way. Crawford gave up four hits and struck out four in five innings in relief of Maci-Brooke Lambert.

The Crimson Storm, with the score tied 1-1 in the second game, jumped on OC starter Kimberly Cusher (1-3) and reliever Lindsy Moore for four runs in the third. Kacey Acker had the big blow, a two-run double to right field that made it 5-0.

Amy Madden's three-run homer keyed a five-run fourth for SNU that made it 10-1. The Lady Eagles left two runners on base in the top of the fifth and didn't score, ending the game by the run rule. It was only the second time this season OC had been run-ruled.

SNU starter Jeneva Nelson (8-2) went all the way, allowing six hits and striking out three batters.

OC will host No. 5-ranked Lubbock Christian (Texas) on Saturday.