BETHANY, Okla. (April 27, 2013) – Southern Nazarene reliever Jake Bidelman held off a seventh-inning Oklahoma Christian rally on Saturday afternoon, allowing the Crimson Storm to escape with a 3-2 win and complete a sweep of a three-game series.
Earlier Saturday, SNU rolled past the Eagles 10-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Cypert Athletic Complex. SNU had won 1-0 at OC on Friday night.
OC (22-21) managed only 12 hits during Saturday's two games and struggled to string together hits to score runs. That particularly proved costly during the second game.
Down 1-0 in the third inning, the Eagles tied the game as Dillon Andrews singled with one out and scored on a single by Jon Wilson – Wilson's first RBI of the baseball season. An infield single by Cory Eastwood loaded the bases with two outs, but SNU starter Nate Saquilon (5-6) struck out Caden Cleveland to end the treat.
SNU (20-25) scored twice in the fifth off OC starter Kelby Reneau (4-6), taking advantage of doubles by Ryan Brosnan and Jacob Inbody and an error by Eastwood, who was playing at shortstop.
Bidelman came on in the seventh to close the game for the Crimson Storm. With one out, Caleb Price reached on an error by SNU shortstop Daniel Martinez and Andrews followed with a single just over the leaping Martinez. Jordan Lopez reached on a fielder's choice grounder when Martinez tried to force out Andrews at second base but failed.
That left the bases loaded. Blake Stringer's sacrifice fly to right field scored Price and sent Andrews to third. Lopez stole second base, but Wilson struck out looking to end the game, allowing Bidelman to record his only save of the season.
Andrews and Eastwood each had two hits for the Eagles.
In the nine-inning opener, OC starter Tyler Sturges (4-4) left the game after facing only two batters due to arm discomfort. The Eagles ended up using five pitchers, with Ryan Nash proving most effective, giving up only one hit and striking out four batters during his three-inning stint.
SNU never trailed, scoring in each of the first three innings to take a 5-1 lead. The Crimson Storm added three more runs in the sixth and two in the seventh for insurance. Kyle Fultz had three RBIs and Austin Samulowitz went 4-for-6 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored for SNU.
SNU starter Tim Coleman (3-7) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run, to pick up the win. Andrews led OC offensively, going 2-for-4 and scoring both of the Eagles' runs.
