ALVA, Okla. — Sam Smith went a combined 7-for-8 on the day with three home runs and nine RBIs to help Southern Nazarene blow past Northwestern Oklahoma State. The Crimson Storm won 12-2 in the opener and 11-10 in the second game Saturday afternoon.

Southern Nazarene (14-26, 10-18 GAC) wasted no time in the opener as it was able to strike for three runs in the first. Jacey James led the inning off with a double to left center. Katelyn Brown then grounded out, moving James over to third. After a Sauer walk, Riley Brown singled to right, scoring James. Hannah LeBeau singled to right center to score Sauer, then Sam Smith singled to shortstop to score Riley Brown. The Crimson Storm led 3-0 going into the bottom of the first.

After a scoreless second, SNU struck for four more runs in the third. Riley Brown got on with a one-out single down the right field line and was pinch ran for by Kendal Stockstill. LeBeau moved Stockstill all the way over to third, as she doubled to left center. With runners on second and third, a Smith infield single scored Stockstill. Amy Reynolds drove in LeBeau and Smith with a single to left center, and then a Kriston Shumaker RBI single made it a 7-0 game going into the bottom of the third.

Northwestern Oklahoma State answered the Storm's 7-0 start with two runs of its own in the fourth, making it a 7-2 game.

Smith led the fifth inning off for SNU with a home run to left. The home run was Smith's third home run of the season, pushing the Crimson Storm's lead back to six runs. The Storm made it a 9-2 game in the sixth after LeBeau hit an RBI single to score Cheyenne Reynolds. With runners on second and third, Smith drove in her fourth and fifth RBIs of the day, as she singled to score LeBeau and Sauer. Amy Reynolds made it a 12-2 game as she drove in Smith with a sacrifice fly.

Katelyn Brown (11-11) held the Rangers scoreless in the sixth, on her way to recording her eleventh win of the season. Brown gave up two runs, on two hits in six innings of work. Smith went a perfect 4-for-4 with five RBIs, three runs scored, and a stolen base. Both the four hits and five RBIs were season game-highs for Smith. LeBeau went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Amy Reynolds went 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

In the nightcap, Northwestern Oklahoma State got out to an early lead, as the Rangers were able to score two runs in the second.

The Storm came back and tied the game up in the third. Shumaker led the inning off with a single up the middle and came around to score after James hit her second home run of the series. Sauer and Riley Brown followed James' home run with a pair of singles. With runners at first and second, a LeBeau triple to center gave SNU a 4-2 lead. Smith added to that lead, making it a 5-2 lead after she drove in LeBeau with a bunt single. Smith then stole second and third and was driven in by an Amy Reynolds sacrifice fly to give the Storm a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the third.

NWOSU retook the lead, as the Rangers were able to score five runs in the third, making it a 7-6 game. The Crimson Storm made it a 7-7 game after Smith homered to left, Smith's fourth home run of the season. The tie didn't last long though, as the Rangers retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth, making it an 8-7 game.

Southern Nazarene found itself down to its final three outs, trailing the Rangers 8-7. Katelyn Brown singled to left to put a runner on first with one out. Sauer reclaimed the lead for the Storm as she blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall. Three batters later, after LeBeau singled to left, Smith hit her second home run of the game and fifth of the season. The Crimson Storm led 11-8 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Northwestern Oklahoma State rallied for two runs in the seventh, but that's all they would get as the Storm pulled out an 11-10 victory.

Brown got the win (12-11) as she gave up three runs on six hits in 4.0 innings of work. James went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Sauer went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. LeBeau went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Smith went 3-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases.