Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DURANT, Okla. (Feb. 5, 2017) – Madison Nordyke's strong early season pitching proved invaluable to Oklahoma Christian on Sunday in the Southeastern Regional Invitational.

Nordyke threw a complete game in a 5-3 win over Missouri Southern, then entered in relief to help quell a late Southwestern Oklahoma State rally, allowing the Lady Eagles to hang on for a 9-5 win at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex.

OC finished the three-day event with a 4-2 record, one win better than last season, and Nordyke was a major reason why, as she also pitched a complete game in a 9-1 win over Emporia State (Kan.) on Friday in the season opener.

Against Missouri Southern (1-4), the junior right-hander struggled a bit in the third inning, walking in a pair of runs and hitting another batter with the bases loaded  as the Lions took a 3-1 lead. OC sophomore Kayla Eichler delivered her first career home run, a two-run shot over the left-field fence, in the fourth to tie the game.

Nordyke (2-0) wriggled out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning to keep the game tied and her teammates gave her the lead in the top of the sixth., as Haley Squier and Lacey Davidson each hit a run-scoring single off Missouri Southern reliever Sydney Koch (1-2).

Nordyke, who had six strikeouts, allowed the Lions only one baserunner in the final two innings to seal the win.

Southwestern (2-4) jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first against OC starter Kaylie Upton (1-0), but the Lady Eagles answered with five runs off Southwestern starter Taylor Eaves (0-3) in the bottom of the inning, knocking her out after only 2/3 of an inning. Bridget White, Eichler, Caitlin Young and Kenysha Noland each had a RBI single for OC during the rally and Nordyke scored on a wild pitch.

OC had the bases loaded with two outs in the third inning when Nordyke sent a fly ball to deep center field, where Southwestern's Kenedi Jackson initially caught the ball on the run, then dropped it. All three baserunners scored and OC led 8-2.

The Bulldogs scratched out two runs on three singles and two walks in the fifth to pull within 8-5, but Eichler relieved Upton in the circle and limited the damage. When Eichler ran into trouble in the seventh with OC leading 9-5, coach Tom Heath again turned to Nordyke, who retired the Bulldogs' final three batters with two runners on base.

Squier went 3-for-4 for OC while White had a pair of RBI singles.

OC will return to action next Friday and Saturday in the North Texas Softball Bash in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Lady Eagles will face Texas Woman's and Tarleton State (Texas) on Friday and Texas-Permian Basin and Eastern New Mexico on Saturday.