BETHANY, Okla. - The Ouachita Tigers softball team split a doubleheader with the Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm on Friday in Bethany, Okla. The Tigers fell by one run in the opener, 3-2. A pinch-hit homerun by KJ Keeley lifted the Tigers to the win in game two by a final of 4-3.

Despite a brilliant six-inning outing by Macy Nantz in game one, Southern Nazarene managed to plate three runs while only managing one hit in the game off of Nantz. The Crimson Storm took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI double to left. Southern Nazarene would score two more in the third inning off a steal of home and a wild pitch to take a 3-0 lead.

Nantz led off the fourth with a walk and advanced to second on a hit by Kate Lacina. Daniella Brantley reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Southern Nazarene retired the next two batters without allowing a run to cross. With two outs, Gabby Gonzalez drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first Tiger run. Paige Purifoy was struck by a pitch, scoring Lacina and making it a one-run game. The inning would close with Ouachita trailing 3-2.

After the third inning, Nantz allowed only two base runners and finished the game with seven strikeouts. Of the three runs allowed, only one was earned. The Tigers would fail to get another run in and would fall by a final of 3-2. 

In game two, the Tigers scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Delaney Bono reached on fielder's choice and advanced to second with a stolen base. Paige Purifoy singled to center field and Bono scored from second. Purifoy advanced to second on the throw to home. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Halley Ryburn. Kelly Powell hit a RBI single to score Purifoy and give Ouachita the 2-0 lead.

Southern Nazarene tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a single up the middle that drove in two runs. Tigers' starter Kelsey O'Brien had allowed only one opposing base runner prior to the fourth. She quickly regrouped to get the Tigers out of the inning with a strikeout to keep the game tied. 

In the the top of the sixth, pinch hitter KJ Keeley crushed a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left center to give the lead back to the Tigers. The two-run shot was the first of the year for Keeley. O'Brien would hold the Storm in check in bottom of the sixth, retiring the side in order. 

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Marissa Butler entered in relief with a runner on and the Tigers holding to a 4-3 lead. She ended the game with a strikeout to give Ouachita the victory in game two. O'Brien earned her seventh win and Butler picked up her second save. 

The two teams close out the conference regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon.