">SNU Crimson Storm Sports

The SNU men's baseball team played Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday and Saturday. On Thursday, SNU hosted NWOSU for a nine inning game. After nine innings of play, the score remained knotted, 6-6. Due to lack of daylight, the game had to be called and resumed at a later time.

Luckily for both teams, SNU would be traveling to Alva, Okla. on Saturday to play a double header versus NWOSU. As play resumed, the tenth inning was scoreless for both teams. In the top of the 11th inning, NWOSU put up three runs, and that was enough for the win, 9-6.

In the game, Chase Glaum led SNU, batting 4-for-6 at the plate with 2 runs. Nick Spears was 1-for-3 with 3 RBI's.

At the conclusion of the delayed game, SNU still had a double header to play. After the first three innings of play, SNU found themselves down 3-0. However, in the top of the 4th inning, the Storm would put together their best offensive inning of the year, scoring nine runs on ten singles. That would be enough to get the win, but SNU added two more runs in the 6th, and three more in the 7th. The final score would be in favor of SNU, 14-5.

Spears was 3-for-5 with 3 runs and 3 RBI's. Mac Gordon hit 3-for-4 with 1 run and 2 RBI's. Bryan Bingham notched the win for SNU, as he pitched the final 3.1 innings of the game, giving up just three hits and no runs.

In the second game of the doubleheader, SNU picked up right where they left off. After falling behind 3-0 again, this time in the first inning, they quickly bounced back with another huge inning in the 2nd. SNU scored six runs in the top of the 2nd inning and that would be all they needed again. Much like the previous game, they added two runs in the top of the 6th and three runs in the top of the 7th, winning the game, 11-5.

Bingham recorded his second win of the day, as he again pitched the final 3.1 innings of the game, giving up just four hits and no runs. Spears had another good game at the plate, hitting 3-for-4 with 1 run and 1 RBI. Adam Bies, who homered in the game, was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's. Tanner Roberson also had a home run in the game.

SNU is now 15-5 on the season and 4-2 in SAC play.

(Bethany, Okla.)---The SNU men's baseball team hosted Cumberland University, of Tennessee, on Tuesday afternoon for one seven inning game. Chris Eastham started on the mound for the Storm. SNU was unable to keep up, as they were outscored by the Bulldogs, 9-5.

After SNU the first two innings, it seemed that SNU was well behind because of the amount of offense that Cumberland had put up, but they only found themselves down, 2-1. Nick Spears hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first to get the Storm on the board.

After a scoreless 3rd inning, Cumberland put four runs on the scoreboard in the top of the 4th inning. SNU did answer in the bottom of the 4th, as Spears hit his second solo home run of the day and Ryan Brosnan added a two-run shot of his own later in the inning. After four innings, SNU trailed 6-4. 

For the next two innings, SNU was not able to get anything going offensively as Cumberland put up three more runs. SNU was able to add one run in the bottom of the 7th, but it was too little too late, as they fell to Cumberland, 9-5.

Spears led the way at the plate for the Storm. He was 3-for-4, with 2 RBI's and 3 runs. Brosnan was 1-for-2 from the plate, with 2 RBI's and 1 run. 

SNU will host Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm. They will then travel to Alva on Saturday to play NWOSU on the road.

It was announced on Monday that Southern Nazarene University pitcher Jake Mitcheltree was named Sooner Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for March 1-7.

Mitcheltree, a junior from Moore, Okla., recorded a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts in a 6-0 win over Sterling. He is now 3-0 on the season and has 19 strike outs, which leads the team. His ERA is 2.37 as he's only gave up 5 earned runs in 19 innings on the mound.

The Crimson Storm baseball team fell to 13-3 on the season and 2-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play with they spilt games with Mid-America Christian on Friday and Saturday. SNU struggled to get things going on both sides on the ball on Friday, losing 5-13 and exhausting four pitchers. Saturday’s game ended in favor of the Storm as they picked up a 13-12 win in nine innings.

SNU got off to a solid start in the top of the first on Friday, scoring two runs to take their first lead of the game. James Tunnell started the scoring campaign for the Storm with a RBI single that send Nick Spears in to score. Reaching the plate a few batters later was Shain Stoner who hustled home on an error from MACU’s third baseman. The Evangels responded in the bottom of the inning with four runs, taking a 4-2 lead early in the nine-inning game.

The Storm offense wasn’t able to muster much in the second, scoring just one run. The bottom of the inning was successful for MACU, as they tacked on four more runs to take an 8-3 lead and gain all the momentum. SNU was silent offensively until the top of the fifth when they scored two more runs, but that wouldn’t be enough to eliminate the six run deficit, and MACU added another run in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 10-5. The Evangels sent three more in to score in the bottom of the sixth, and iced away the 13-5 victory with solid defense in the final three innings.

Zack Swart, Chris Eastham, Mac Gordon, and Nick Spears all saw time on the mound for SNU, with Swart recording the loss.

Saturday’s game went much smoother from the plate, as the Storm scored 13 runs, starting off the game strong when four runners reached home in the bottom of the first after holding MACU scoreless in the top of the inning. Derek Glenn was the first to reach home for the Storm, scoring on a passed ball. A few batters later James Tunnell knocked a RBI single in to score Nick Spears. Stepping to the play a moment later with on runner on base was Adam Bies. He wasted no time, knocking a long ball over the wall scoring Tunnell and himself to give SNU the 4-1 lead.

MACU got on the board with a run in the top of the second and added two more in the third to cut the Storm lead to just a run, but SNU tacked on one more in the bottom of the third with a RBI from Stoner to maintain the advantage, 5-3. Holding the Evangels in the fourth, SNU posted a three-up, three-down inning, giving themselves a change to go to work with their bats once again. Chase Glaum knocked a shot over the wall, giving the Storm two runs and a 7-3 lead after four innings.

Responding in the top of the fifth, MACU scored three runs on two hits to cut the margin to two, but SNU added two more in the bottom of the inning with a two-RBI homer from Mac Gordon. With a 9-6 lead in their favor, the Storm was able to hold the Evangels in the sixth and add another run in the bottom of the inning when Tunnell tripled and sent Glenn in to score.

MACU began to rally in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs and holding SNU to just a run in the bottom of the inning. The Evangels sent two more in to score in the eighth, knotting the game at 11. SNU’s Bies knocked his second two-run homer over the wall in the bottom of the inning to give the Storm a 13-11 lead, and SNU iced the game away in the top of the ninth, allowing just a run.

Andrew Steinmeyer, Bryan Bingham, and Shain Stoner all saw time on the mound on Saturday, with Stoner picking up the win.

The Southern Nazarene University baseball team defeated Mid-America Christian University in a nine-inning thriller tonight, with a final score of 9-8. This victory moves the Crimson Storm to 12-2 on the season.

The Crimson Storm scored 1 run in the bottom of the 4th, 3 runs each in the bottom of the 6th and 7th innings, 1 in the bottom of the 8th, and the final, winning, run in the bottom of the 9th. This run came with two outs and a runner on third base. A wild pitch from the MACU pitcher was capitalized on by that runner, Ethan Fruehling, who ran to home plate for the winning run.

(BETHANY, Okla.)--- It was announced on Monday that Shain Stoner and Andrew Steinmeyer were named Sooner Athletic Conference Players of the Week for the week of February 22-28. Stoner was honored for his offensive production while Steinmeyer was honored for his work on the mound.

Stoner, a sophomore infielder from San Diego, Calif., led the Storm to a 5-0 week with a .688 (11-16) batting average, 1.500 slugging percentage, four home runs, nine RBI's, nine runs, and a double on the week. He also stole two bases in as many attempts.

Steinmeyer, a senior from Corona, Calif., pitched in twogames during the week, recording a win in one and a save in another. His win came against Friends University, when he pitched a one-hit shut out. Against Briar Cliff, he was able to come in and preserve the win for the Storm to record the save.

SNU moved to 11-2 on the season after they lost the first and won the second game of a double header on Monday afternoon against Sterling College.

Box Score Game 1

Box Score Game 2

The Crimson Storm gave up their first loss in 10 games and only their second loss of the season this afternoon against Sterling College.
Nothing but stranded runners and outs occurred until the 4th inning, in which Sterling got things started. A single runner was brought across the plate after a steal, a sacrifice fly, and another attempted steal to draw the SNU defense's attention.
In the bottom of the 4th, Shane Stoner drove home Nick Spears with a double. Immediately after, another double, this one from James Tunnell, drove home both Stoner and Mac Gordon. Tunnell was then driven home in turn by a single from Chase Glaum. This slew of scoring brought the scoreboard to read 4-1 going in to the top of the 5th inning.
The score remained static throughout the 5th inning, but in the top of the sixth the Sterling College club replicated SNU's four-run streak to move ahead 4-5. The next inning saw another run from Sterling, moving the score to 4-6. The Crimson Storm failed to score for the remainder of the game and so gave up their second loss of the season, the first loss since the very first game of the season.
In the second game of today's chilly double-header the Crimson Storm again found their stride and defeated Sterling 6-0.
Starting off strong, SNU scored a single run in the first inning, with a single from Stoner drove in Derek Glenn. The second inning was triply profitable when Glenn tripled to drive in Glaum and Chase Roten. An error by the Sterling second baseman then allowed Glenn to score. The score after the second inning was 4-0.
SNU scored twice more: once in the 4th inning when Glaum drove in Roten, and once in the 5th when Ethan Fruehling, running for Mac Gordon, was driven in on a double from Shane Stoner. The inablility of Sterling to score throughout 6 and a half innings made the bottom of the 7th inning unnecessary and the Crimson Storm gained their 11th win of the season with a score of 6-0.

(BETHANY, Okla.)---SNU hosted Briar Cliff University on Friday afternoon for a nine inning game. The game was a back and forth offensive affair that saw SNU hold on to gain their 8th victory of the season, 11-9.

Box Score

SNU wasted no time getting on the board as Nick Spears and Mac Gordon had RBI singles in the bottom of the first inning to give SNU the 2-0 lead. They also added a run in the second inning as Chase Glaum knocked in Ryan Brosnan. SNU carried their 3-0 lead into the top of the 5th inning, when Briar Cliff was finally able to get on the board to make it 3-1 after four and a half innings. In the bottom of the 5th, SNU added one more run when they were able to load up the bases and BCU's pitcher walked in a run.

The 4-1 game after five innings turned into an offensive explosion over the next four innings. Briar Cliff was able to score three runs in the top of the 6th and one in the top of the 7th to take a one run lead over the Storm 5-4. 

In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Storm's bats came back alive. The first hitter of the inning, Shain Stoner, started the Storm off right with a solo home run to tie up the game. The inning saw the Storm record five hits and score five runs. James Tunnell had an RBI double in the inning. After the inning, SNU led 9-5.

After holding BCU scoreless in the top of the 8th inning, Stoner led off the inning again at the plate. The exact same outcome followed. Stoner hit another homer to lead off the second straight inning. SNU was able to work the BCU pitcher and Chase Roten was also able to cross the plate in the inning to give SNU an 11-5 lead going into the top of the 9th inning.

In the 9th inning, SNU began to have  a little trouble. Pitcher Mac Gordon had no problem retiring the side in the 8th inning, but BCU got their bats going in the 9th. SNU gave up four runs in the ninth to make their lead much smaller, 11-9. With the tying run on second, Andrew Steinmeyer struck out the last two batters to preserve SNU's win. 

Chris Eastham got the win for SNU as he relieved starter Bryan Bingham, who pitched 5.0 innings, giving up five hits and only two earned runs. Bingham struck out eight batters on the day. Behind the plate, SNU was lead by Shain Stoner, who hit two home runs. Stoner was 3-for-4 on the day with three runs and two RBI's. Right fielder James Tunnell was 2-for-4 with three RBI's in the game.

SNU will be back in action tomorrow when they play Briar Cliff again in a double header at 1 pm and 3 pm. 

(BETHANY, Okla.)—The Crimson Storm baseball team continued to improve on an already exciting season with two wins over Friends University on Tuesday afternoon at the Cypert Complex. SNU picked up a 10-0 run rule victory in the first game of the double header, thanks to Andrew Steinmeyer who picked a one hit shut out for the Storm. Leading the way in game two was Adam Bies who hit a full cycle in SNU’s 12-4 victory over the Falcons.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

SNU wasted no time, getting off to a great start in the bottom of the first inning in game one of the double header, scoring five runs to take an early lead and grab all the momentum on their home field. Taking advantage of several mistakes by the Falcons defense, SNU scored two runs on Friends errors, and tacked on another when Shain Stoner sent Nick Spears home with an RBI single. Giving the Storm their final two runs of the inning was Chase Roten who sent two home when he knocked a long ball over the wall, giving SNU a 5-0 lead after their first at bats of the game.

The Storm defense didn’t give the Falcons a chance to answer, posting a three-up, three-down stand in the top of the second. SNU tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning with Mac Gordon sent Derek Glenn in to score with an RBI double, but that was the end of the scoring run in the inning for the Storm.

Holding Friends scoreless once again, SNU had an opportunity to widen the gap in the third and took advantage of it, tacking on two more runs thanks for an RBI double from James Tunnell and a sacrifice RBI from Glenn. SNU continued to go to work with their bats, scoring another run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-0 lead. Gordon led off the inning with a triple, and reached home just seconds later with Stoner knocked an RBI double in for the Storm.

With an opportunity to pick up a run rule victory, SNU was unable to tack on another run in the fifth after another three-up, three-down inning from the Storm defense. The 10th and final run of the game came in the sixth inning when Stoner scored on a wild pitch to give the Storm another victory.

On the mound, Andrew Steinmeyer picked up the one hit victory, striking out three batters in sixth innings of work for SNU.

Game two began on a much different note, as the Falcons finally got something going offensively, scoring two quick runs in the top of the first on a long homer over the left field wall. SNU was unable to respond in the bottom of the inning, and Friends widened the gap with another run in the top of the second, taking a 3-0 lead after failing to score a run in game one.

The Storm went to work in the bottom of the second, however, scoring four runs to take the lead, and tacking on four more in the bottom of the third to go up 8-3 after three innings of play. Both teams sent one to the plate in the fourth, but SNU held the Falcons in the next two innings and added another run in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to grab a 12-4 victory.

Picking up the win on the mound for SNU was Jake Mitcheltree who pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, and striking out eight. Mitcheltree improved to 2-0 on the season.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Our most sincere apologies, ladies and gentlemen, for the delay in the posting of the story for yesterday’s baseball games. Technical difficulties have prevented us from doing so until now. Thank you for your patience.
(Bethany, Okla.)---The Southern Nazarene University baseball team welcomed Graceland University to the Cypert Athletic Complex this afternoon for a double header. The Crimson Storm crushed their opponents in both games, with the respective scores of 9-0, and 12-4. These two wins extend the Storm’s 5-game winning streak and move SNU to 5-1 on the season.
The first game moved along very quickly in the first three innings, with the only score coming in the bottom of the third, with Nick Spears driving in Derek Glenn before being thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double.
The fourth inning proved to be the key point in the first game of the afternoon. After forcing Graceland to strand two base-runners, the Crimson Storm proceeded to score 7 runs. Mac Gordon homered. He was followed by Chase Roten, who walked and then stole second. Tanner Roberson reached first base on an error by the Graceland short stop, while Roten advanced to third. Roberson gained second on a wild pitch. Ryan Brosnan then belted a double, driving in both Roten and Roberson. Chase Glaum hit a single which drove in Brosnan. Derek Glenn then doubled to left field, which drove in Glaum. Nick Spears then topped off the inning with a two-run homer, bringing the score to 8-0.
The game proceeded apace thereafter, with the only other score coming from a single-run home run from Shane Stoner in the bottom of the sixth. The Crimson Storm accumulated a total of 10 hits in this first game, and only allowed 2 hits from Graceland. Pitcher Chase Roten got the win.
The second game unfolded in a very similar fashion to the first. Graceland scored a single run in the bottom of the first inning, their first of the entire afternoon. Much like the fourth inning was a party for the Crimson Storm in the first game of the afternoon, so also was the second inning in the second game. SNU once again scored 7 runs with Adam Bies driving in Shane Stoner. James Tunnell doubled to drive in Chase Roten and Ryan Brosnan. Glaum grounded out to second base but, in doing so, drove in Bies. Immediately following, Derek Glenn singled to drive in Tunnell. Mac Gordon flied out to center, allowing Glenn to score on an error by the Graceland short stop. Shane Stoner then singled to drive in Nick Spears, who had walked earlier in the inning.
SNU fell quiet once again until the bottom of the fifth, where they scored 4 more runs. The entire afternoon was filled with SNU offensive dominance, and strong pitching from Roten, in the first game, and Swart and Gordon in the second.
The second game ended with a score of 12-4, moving the Crimson Storm to 5-1 on the season, having won their last 5 games in a row.

(BETHANY, Okla.)—The Crimson Storm baseball team improved to 3-1 on the season with two more wins on Tuesday afternoon over Ottawa University. Both teams got off to a slow start in game one, but SNU put together a solid fifth inning to pick up a 5-4 win over the Braves. Game two looked as if it may go in favor over Ottawa, but SNU went to work with their bats in the fourth to take a large lead and the Braves wouldn’t be able to make up the deficit, giving the Storm a 10-6 victory. 

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

SNU struggled to get things going in game one, picking up their first run in the bottom of the third inning when they were facing their final out. Chase Roten sent a perfect shot into center field, sending James Tunnel to the plate for the Storm. The inning ended on the next at bat for SNU, and the Braves took their first lead of the game two innings later with two runs in the top of the fifth.

The Storm responded in the bottom of the inning, tacking on four runs to gain a three-run lead over Ottawa as the game neared its end. First to reach on a walk for SNU was Tunnell, and Chase Glaum singled on the next at bat to give the Storm two runners on base with no outs. Both runners advances on a wild pitch a few moments later, and Nick Spears loaded the bases for the Storm when he walked as well. Sending all runners to the plate with a three-run RBI was Mac Gordon, and he would reach home on a passed ball shortly after, giving SNU their fifth and final run of the game.

The Braves attempted to respond in the sixth, tacking on two more runs and holding the Storm scoreless in the bottom of the inning, but Chris Eastham closed out the game for SNU on the mound.

Picking up the win for the Storm was Bryan Bingham who pitched 5.2 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out six batters. Eastham recorded the save for SNU, throwing for one inning and allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out one batter in the 7th.

In game two, the Braves came out strong, scoring two runs in the opening inning and holding the Storm scoreless in the bottom of the first, but SNU got things going in the second and refused to let up, getting strong as the game went on.

With Chase Roten on third, Ryan Brosnan stepped to the plate for the Storm and grounded out to second, picking up a sacrifice RBI to give SNU their only run of the inning and cut the Ottawa lead to just a run.

In the bottom of the third, Glaum reached first on a walk, and advanced to second on a single from Derek Glenn, giving Nick Spears a chance to send Glaum in for the score with a sacrifice shot to shortstop. With Glenn in scoring position, Gordon stepped to the place for SNU and grounded out to second, giving his teammate plenty of time to reach home. Glenn’s run gave the Storm a 3-2 lead after three innings, but SNU widened the gap with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Giving the Storm their first runs of the inning was Tunnell with a two-RBI single. With the momentum in their favor, Glenn gave SNU two more runs when he grounded out to second base and sent Kenny Garcia home. The final two runs of the inning came when Spears knocked a nice shot into right field and sent Glaum and Tunnell to the plate.

The Braves picked up one run in the fifth, but SNU tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth, gaining a seven-run advantage with just one opportunity remaining for Ottawa to take the lead. Despite three runs in the seventh, the Braves would not be able to pick up the win and SNU came out on top, 10-6.

On the mound for the Storm Jake Mitcheltree picked up the victory, allowing three runs on give hits in five innings of work. Mitcheltree struck out five in his time on the mound.

 

(Bethany, Okla.)---The first home game of the Crimson Storm saw York College come to town for a chilly afternoon matchup. In a last inning thriller, SNU defeated the Panthers 7-6 to move to 1-1 on the season.

Box Score

The 1st inning saw 1 run scored for the visiting York club, but the Storm responded immediately after SNU pitcher Andrew Steinmeyer struck out the last Panther batter. Chase Glaum, Chase Roten, Nick Spears and Mac Gordon all scored in SNU’s 1st inning, driven in by their team mates. After batting through the entire line up the Storm left two runners on base at the end of a 45 minute inning.

The game picked up in pace slightly, thereafter, with little happening after Gordon bunted a run in to make the score 5-1 in the 2nd.

Several uneventful innings passed before York College managed to put another runner across the plate to move within 3 runs of the SNU lead. It was in the sixth, however, that this game became truly interesting. In a blistering run, the York Panthers scored 4 runs to go up 5-6 on the Crimson Storm, who had been cruising towards victory up to that point.

SNU failed to score in the 6th, and managed to get out of the top of the 7th without incident. Which brought about the bottom of the 7th inning, the last inning in NAIA college play. Ryan Brosnan singled and was replaced with pinch runner Adam Bies. Bies was advanced to second by a single from Shain Stoner, and then to third by another single from Derek Glenn. With the bases loaded a sacrifice fly to center field looked to send Bies home, but he was thrown out for the second out, leaving SNU with only one out remaining to engineer a comeback. A wild pitch advanced Glenn to second, and Stoner to third. James Tunnell drew a walk to load the bases once again. It was Glaum who looped a ball in to right-center that drove Stoner and Glenn in, putting SNU up 7-6 and ending the game.

Chase Glaum led the team offensively with 2 runs, 3 hits, and 2 RBI’s. Andrew Steinmeyer threw 7 strike outs. Mac Gordon, who relieved Steinmeyer in the 6th, earned the win.

(BETHANY, Okla.)---Coming off a 37-15 season, the SNU baseball team looksforward to a promising year and Coach Elliot Johnson is very excited about whatthis year’s team could accomplish.The Crimson Storm welcomes 14 new players to the roster thisseason.  SNU is in one of the morecompetitive conferences in the nation, so they will need every bit of offensivepower they can muster.  An improvedpitching staff could greatly strengthen the program. 

Now let us introduce the team. 

 

Outfield

Senior outfielder Chase Roten returns this year with animpressive collegiate career thus far.Last year, he had a .395 average with 12 home runs, a record-tying 23doubles, along with 53 RBI’s and 72 runs (3^rd best in schoolhistory).  He is a huge asset tothe Storm this season.

Hershel Hepler, a 6’1 outfielder from Arlington, Texas,returns to the Crimson Storm this year. Last year he recorded a .306 battingaverage with 25 RBI’s and 42 runs.

SNU is happy to add Ryan Brosnan to their roster this year.Brosnan, a 5’11 outfielder from Santee, Calif., played for Grossmont CommunityCollege last year where he batted .327 with 7 HR’s.   

Sophomore James Tunnell, a 6’2 outfielder from OklahomaCity, Okla., comes to SNU by way of Lipscomb University.  Tunnell was drafted in the 43^rdround by the San Diego Padres in 2008.

SNU is also joined in the outfield this year by KennyGarcia, a 5’8 freshman from Yukon, Okla.

 

Infield

Senior shortstop Nick Spears also returns after a verysuccessful season in 2009. Spears, a 5’10 senior from Santee, Calif., batted.417 with 13 home runs and 71 RBI’s last season.  Spears was named the Sooner Athletic Conference Shortstop ofthe Year last year, and made the first-team All-SAC team. 

Chase Glaum returns this year as a very valuable part of theteam.  Glaum, a 5’8 junior fromAptos, Calif., started 50 games for SNU at second base a year ago. Glaum batted.390 and recorded 27 RBI’s.  He ledthe team in stolen bases (16).

Catcher Ryon Butts, a 6’0 junior from Edmond, Oklahoma,transfers to SNU after batting .350 and hitting 3 home runs last year at RoseState College. Fellow junior, Adam Bies joins the Crimson Storm, coming fromDoane College. Bies, a 6’2 infielder, earned GPAC All-Conference honors whileat Doane. Another junior transfer, Mac Gordon, a 6’1 freshman from Moore,Okla., comes to SNU from Cowley County Community College. He has been named tothe JUCO World Series All-Tournament Team.

Tanner Roberson, a 6’2 junior infielder from Washington,Okla., will be an integral part of this year’s team. Roberson has previouslyplayed quarterback for the Crimson Storm football team.

Dalton Thibodeau also joins  this stellar group of infielders . Thibodeau, a 6’0sophomore from Ontario, Canada, played in 4 games last year and hit .250. He isjoined by classmate Derek Glenn, 5’8 sophomore from Del City, Okla. Glenn hit.380 last year while attending Rose State Junior College. He was named 2^ndteam All-Conference. Rounding out the sophomore class is Shain Stoner, a 6’0infielder from San Diego, Calif. Stoner transfers from Mesa Community Collegewhere he hit .280 with 4 HR’s.

SNU is excited about both Ethan Frueling and Barry Bridges.Fruleing, a 6’0 freshman from Allen, Texas, and Bridges, a 6’4 freshman fromOklahoma City, Okla, will be great additions to this infield squad.

 

Pitching

The SNU pitching staff is led by senior Andrew Steinmeyer.Steinmeyer, a 6’5 LHP from Corona, Calif., started 14 games last year andpitched in 65.2 total innings. Andrew posted a 5-3 record with 56 strikeoutslast season.  He is one of the onlyreturning pitchers for the Storm.

A strong addition to this year’s pitching rotation is BryanBingham. Bingham, a 6’6 senior RHP from Allen, Texas, has played for bothNavarro College and the University of Arkansas. At Navarro, he posted a 12-1record and played on the Junior College Olympic team. The Detroit Tigersdrafted Bingham in the 40th round in 2008.

Chris Eastham, is another one of SNU’s returning pitchers.Eastham, a 6’3 sophomore LHP from Jacksonville, Ark., started three games lastyear, but he appeared in ten. In all, he pitched in 20.2 innings and had a 5.23ERA. 

Another excellent addition to the SNU pitching staff is ZachSwart.  Swart, a 6’1 junior LHPfrom Yakima Washington, played for Wentatchee Valley College last season wherehe led his team with 65 innings pitched, under a 2.00 ERA, and 57 strikeouts. 

LHP Jake Micheltree is also joining this year’s roster.Micheltree, a 6’3 junior from Moore, Okla., recently played at CoffeyvilleCommunity College, where he was named Honorable Mention All-Conference.

 

 

 

Wrap Up

Coach Elliot Johnson is in his third season here at SNU andhis team is looking to improve upon last year’s success.  “ We’ve had a fine recruiting year andseem to have replaced some good players from ’09,” said Coach Johnson. Ourdefense should be much better, the pitching seems just as deep, and or hittingshould match last year."

Last year, SNU had a lot of power at the plate. Byreturning much of that power, SNU should challenge a couple records they setlast year. Just a season ago, SNU broke two season batting records. During the2009 season, SNU batted .363 as a team. That is now the best team battingaverage in SNU history. The previous record was .340 set in the 1995 season.They also shattered the slugging percentage record of .435 set by the 2006team. The record now stands at .543. In 2009, the team made it into theNational NAIA tournament, but lost in the first round.  

With much of last years batting powerand a fresh new group of players, there could be a great season ahead for theCrimson Storm, with high hopes of advancing further than last season’s squad.  SNU is picked 4th in the pre-season Sooner Athletic Conference poll.

(SHAWNEE, Okla.)---Lubbock Christian University is the unanimous preseason selection to win the Sooner Athletic Conference baseball title, according to a poll of the league’s coaches.

The coaches’ poll has the Chaps with all 11 first-place votes. Lubbock Christian, the defending NAIA champions, was also ranked atop the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Oklahoma City was ranked second with all 11 second-place votes in the poll. Wayland Baptist was ranked third, followed by Southern Nazarene, Oklahoma Baptist, USAO, Rogers State, Northwestern, Oklahoma Christian, Mid-America Christian and St. Gregory’s.

The first games of the season are scheduled for Jan. 23 when Wayland
Baptist visits Texas-Brownsville.

Rank - School - (1st place votes) - total points
1. Lubbock Christian (11) - 11
2. Oklahoma City - 22
3. Wayland Baptist - 36
4. Southern Nazarene - 48
5. Oklahoma Baptist - 57
6. Science & Arts of Oklahoma - 63
7. Rogers State - 71
8. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 79
9. Oklahoma Christian - 95
10. Mid-America Christian - 107
11. St. Gregory's - 121

(BETHANY, Okla.)---Southern Nazarene’s baseball program held their second annual Scout Day on Wednesday, September 30th, at the Cypert Athletic Complex. Approximately 20 scouts from Major League Baseball clubs visited the Cypert Complex; representatives from the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Rays, Braves, Mariners, Padres, Indians, Braves, Cardinals, Orioles, Athletics, Giants, Royals, Tigers, Blue Jays and others watched players display their skills in the Sooner Athletic Conference Scout Day.

“Two of our players were drafted after last season,” said SNU head coach Elliot Johnson. “We are hopeful this day will ‘wet the appetite’ of MLB teams and more will be signed after the 2010 season. I was overjoyed with the turnout.”

In the June 2009 draft, SNU pitchers, Matt Morgal (Blue Jays) and Josh Cephas (Padres) were chosen in the 13th rounds and 32nd round, respectively. Four players on the current SNU roster have been previously drafted.

SNU opens up their 2010 season on February 5th at Huston-Tillotson in Austin, Texas.

(BETHANY, Okla.)---SNU will host another Scout Day on September 30, 2009 at 3:00 pm. All teams in the Sooner Athletic Conference have been invited to send draft-eligible players for the pro style workout.

Last season, scouts from the Padres, Braves, Giants, Twins, Tigers, and Marlins recorded times in the 60-yard dash, graded arm strength and velocity, and observed hitting, fielding, and pitching skills.

Two SNU pitchers, Matt Morgal and Josh Cephas, were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, respectively.

(BETHANY, OKLA.)---Southern Nazarene University senior pitcher, Matt Morgal, was drafted in the 13th-round of the Major League Baseball draft on Wednesday by the Toronto Blue Jays.  Morgal becomes the 4th player in SNU baseball history to be drafted in the MLB draft.  Morgal also becomes the 12th player at Southern Nazarene to sign a professional baseball contract.  Morgal was the 400th overall pick in the draft.

Morgal, a senior pitcher from Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, had a dominant 2009 season at Southern Nazarene in his only year at SNU, earning First Team All-SAC honors after finishing the year with a 10-2 record.  Morgal had a record-breaking regular season, finishing with an SNU record 10 wins.  Morgal also set a new school mark in strikeouts, recording 131, breaking the old record of 107.  Morgal set a school record for strikeouts in a game as well, posting 18 in a win versus Mid-America Christian.  Morgal finished with an ERA of 4.42 in 89.2 innings of work with only 38 walks.  Morgal added six complete games in 13 starts and had one shutout. 

SNU finished with a final record of 37-15 and a 19-11 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference.  The Crimson Storm made the program's first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, earning a spot in the NAIA Opening Round.

(BETHANY, OKLA.)---Southern Nazarene University senior pitcher, Josh Cephas, was drafted in the 34th round of the Major League Baseball draft on Thursday by the San Diego Padres.  Cephas joins teammate, Matt Morgal, as Major League draftees this season for Southern Nazarene.  Morgal, also a senior pitcher, was taken in the 13th-round of the Major League Baseball draft on Wednesday by the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Cephas becomes the 5th player in SNU baseball history to be drafted in the MLB draft.  Cephas also becomes the 13th player at Southern Nazarene to sign a professional baseball contract.  Cephas was the 1,014th pick in this year's draft. 

Cephas, a senior pitcher from Berkley, California, spent two seasons at Southern Nazarene, combining for a record of 8-7 in two years on the mound.  This year, Cephas was 5-2 with a 4.14 ERA and finished the season with 69 strikeouts to only 14 walks in 45.2 innings of work.  Cephas also had a team high five saves and made 20 appearances during the year.  For his career, Cephas finished with 118 strikeouts to only 39 walks in 109.1 innings of work and had a 5.52 ERA... 

SNU finished with a final record of 37-15 and a 19-11 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference.  The Crimson Storm made the program's first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, earning a spot in the NAIA Opening Round.