SNU played four games on Tuesday as they hosted both Bethany College and Friends College for consecutive double headers. In their first double header against Bethany College, SNU won the first game 5-3 and the second game 7-1. Against Friends, they would win the first game 6-3 and

In game 1, SNU would fall behind one run in the top of the third. However, in the bottom of that inning, Katie Turner made sure that they would take the lead and keep it. Turner hit a two-run home run to left-center field. SNU would score two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to extend their lead. SNU came out on top, 5-3.

Jordan Simmons started the game for the Storm and she recorded the win. She would pitch 6.2 innings and allow just 3 earned runs before Tiffany Gossett would come in and get the save. At the plate, Turner was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s and 1 run. Daphne Stewart was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI.

In game 2, SNU picked up where they left off in the previous game, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. They would add two more runs in the bottom of the 5th inning, eventually winning the game, 7-1. Kaci Crawford started game 2 for SNU and pitched 6 innings, giving up just 4 hits and no runs. Gossett again came in to finish off the game for the Storm.

At the plate, SNU was led by Keli Billups, who was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run. Kristina Forest and Aubrey Jones were both 1-for-3 and had 2 RBI’s and 1 run. Stewart had another good game, going 2-for-4 with 1 run.

In their second double header of the day, SNU would face Friends University. Friends started out scoring one run in the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Katie Hale hit a solo home run, to tie the game. It was Hale’s 7 home run of the year.

Later in the game, SNU found themselves down, 3-1. In the bottom of the 5th inning, they had an offensive explosion as they were able to score five runs to take the 6-3 lead. That game would end with the same score.

Kaci Crawford pitched her second game of the day and got her second win of the day. In this game, she pitched the complete game, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. Hale led the way at the plate, as she was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run. Stewart was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored.

In game 2 versus Friends, Friends got on board again in the top of the first, scoring one run. However, in the bottom of the first inning, Aubrey Jones stepped up with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam to put the Storm on top, 4-1. That score remained the same until the bottom of the third inning when SNU’s bats got hot again. Billups hit a two RBI double, followed by a SAC bunt from Chelsea Lowell that scored the third run of the inning. After three innings, SNU led 7-1.

In the next inning, SNU picked up five more runs. Billups added another RBI on a two out single. Then, a wild pitch allowed Aubrey Jones to cross the plate from third base. A couple batters later, Allison Fields stepped up with runners on first and second base. Fields hit a triple down the right field line, knocking in two more runs. Shanna Buckles was the next batter, and she would hit an infield single that scored Fields. That put SNU on top 12-1, and that would be the final score. The game was called in the fifth inning due to the run rule.

Simmons picked up her second win of the day to move to 6-1 on the year. She pitched all five innings, giving up 6 hits and no earned runs. At the plate, Jones led the way as she was 2-for-2 with 4 RBI’s and 2 runs. Billups was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s and 1 run. Hale was 2-for-2 with 2 runs.

SNU played four games on Tuesday as they hosted both Bethany College and Friends College for consecutive double headers. In their first double header against Bethany College, SNU won the first game 5-3 and the second game 7-1. Against Friends, they would win the first game 6-3 and the second game 12-1. 

In game 1, SNU would fall behind one run in the top of the third. However, in the bottom of that inning, Katie Turner made sure that they would take the lead and keep it. Turner hit a two-run home run to left-center field. SNU would score two more runs in the bottom of the 4^th inning to extend their lead. SNU came out on top, 5-3.

 

Jordan Simmons started the game for the Storm and she recorded the win. She would pitch 6.2 innings and allow just 3 earned runs before Tiffany Gossett would come in and get the save. At the plate, Turner was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s and 1 run. Daphne Stewart was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI.

 

In game 2, SNU picked up where they left off in the previous game, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. They would add two more runs in the bottom of the 5^th inning, eventually winning the game, 7-1. Kaci Crawford started game 2 for SNU and pitched 6 innings, giving up just 4 hits and no runs. Gossett again came in to finish off the game for the Storm.

 

At the plate, SNU was led by Keli Billups, who was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run. Kristina Forest and Aubrey Jones were both 1-for-3 and had 2 RBI’s and 1 run. Stewart had another good game, going 2-for-4 with 1 run.

 

In their second double header of the day, SNU would face Friends University. Friends started out scoring one run in the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Katie Hale hit a solo home run, to tie the game. It was Hale’s 7 home run of the year.

 

Later in the game, SNU found themselves down, 3-1. In the bottom of the 5^th inning, they had an offensive explosion as they were able to score five runs to take the 6-3 lead. That game would end with the same score.

 

Kaci Crawford pitched her second game of the day and got her second win of the day. In this game, she pitched the complete game, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs. Hale led the way at the plate, as she was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run. Stewart was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored.

 

In game 2 versus Friends, Friends got on board again in the top of the first, scoring one run. However, in the bottom of the first inning, Aubrey Jones stepped up with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam to put the Storm on top, 4-1. That score remained the same until the bottom of the third inning when SNU’s bats got hot again. Billups hit a two RBI double, followed by a SAC bunt from Chelsea Lowell that scored the third run of the inning. After three innings, SNU led 7-1.

 

In the next inning, SNU picked up five more runs. Billups added another RBI on a two out single. Then, a wild pitch allowed Aubrey Jones to cross the plate from third base. A couple batters later, Allison Fields stepped up with runners on first and second base. Fields hit a triple down the right field line, knocking in two more runs. Shanna Buckles was the next batter, and she would hit an infield single that scored Fields. That put SNU on top 12-1, and that would be the final score. The game was called in the fifth inning due to the run rule.

 

Simmons picked up her second win of the day to move to 6-1 on the year. She pitched all five innings, giving up 6 hits and no earned runs. At the plate, Jones led the way as she was 2-for-2 with 4 RBI’s and 2 runs. Billups was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI’s and 1 run. Hale was 2-for-2 with 2 runs.

 

The Crimson Storm women's softball team gained two wins in a doubly victorious double-header against Northwestern Oklahoma State University this Thursday. The first game ended with SNU up 4-2. The second game had a score of 6-3.These wins move the Crimson Storm to 11-2 on the season and 4-0 in SAC play.

Two runs each of the total four points scored by SNU came in the 3rd and 5th innings of the first game. A two-run homer from Katie Turner brought in Daphne Stewart after her single. In the 5th it was a triple from Kristina Forest that drove in Aubrey Jones and Shanna Buckles.

In the second game, SNU scored one run in the 1st inning, 2 in the 5th inning, and 3 in the 6th inning. A sacrifice fly by Katie Hale drove in Daphne Stewart for the 1st inning run. In the 5th it was Hale driving in Stewart again, this time with a 2-run homer. And finally, in the 6th inning, Kristina Forest stole home for 1 run, and Stewart drove in Karen Koloff and Allison Fields with a single.

It was announced on Monday that Southern Nazarene teammates Kaci Crawford and Katie Hale are Sooner Athletic Conference Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, for March 1-7.

Crawford, a sophomore pitcher from Paris, Texas, was 4-0 on the week with a 1.35 earned run average. She had 15 strikeouts in 26 innings of work, highlighted by a two-hit shutout of Williams Baptist.

Hale, a junior first baseman from Baytown, Texas, led SNU to a 7-0 week with a .600 (15-25) batting average and a 1.240 slugging percentage. She had seven runs, four doubles, four home runs and 18 RBI. Her breakout game of the week was a two-homer, eight-RBI game against Bacone.

(Conway, Ark.)---SNU softball traveled to Conway, Ark. this past weekend to play five games. They took a four game winning streak into the weekend and they were able to extend that to nine games as they won all five games in Arkansas.

In their first game, SNU faced Northwood University and they were able to battle to a 4-2 victory. SNU took a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning and they never looked back. Kaci Crawford was on the mound for the Storm and she threw a great game. Crawford pitched 5 innings, giving up just 5 hits and 2 runs. At the plate, Chelsea Lowell was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI's. Kelli Billups was 2-for-2 with 2 runs. Tiffany Gossett recorded the save as she pitched 2 innings giving up just one hit.

The next game of the day was against Lambuth University. SNU had no trouble at all with Lambuth, as they just needed 5 innings to win the game. Jordan Simmons was the starting pitcher for SNU in this game, and she pitched a solid game. In 5 innings, she gave up just 2 hits and no runs. She also struck out 4 batters. At the plate, Katie Hale was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs. She had a home run in the game. Kristina Forest, who also had a home run in the game, was 2-for-2 with 4 RBI's. SNU took an 8-0 lead in the 5th inning, when the run rule came into effect.

In their third game of the day, SNU continued to ride their hot streak against Bacone College. Crawford got the nod again at pitcher and continued where she left off earlier in the day. She pitched 6 innings, giving up 6 hits and one run. At the plate, Hale had a record-breaking game. Hale hit a grand slam in the 5th inning and followed that up with a walk-off home run the next inning to win the game. She had 8 RBI's in the game, which is a new school individual game record. Stewart was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and Katie Turner was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's.

The next day, SNU picked up where they left off the previous day, when they faced Mid-Continent University. Simmons started the game for the Storm, and nearly pitched a perfect game. She pitched 6 innings, giving up no hits and no runs. At the plate, Hale continued her hot streak as she went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI's. Centerfielder Aubrey Jones went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI's and 1 run. SNU came away with the victory, 8-3.

In their last game of the trip, SNU would be in for a defensive battle against Williams Baptist College. Crawford started her third game of the trip at pitcher and she continued to have a good trip. She pitched the entire game, which went to extra innings, giving up just 2 hits, no runs, and stirking out 5 batters. The game remained tied 0-0 through seven innings. In the top of the 8th inning, Turner batted in the first run of the game to give SNU the 1-0 lead. A few batters later, Billups also recorded an RBI to extend the lead to 2-0. Crawford was able to retire three straight batters in the bottom of the 8th inning to preserve the win for the Storm.

After dropping the first two games of the year, SNU's win streak now stands at nine games. SNU will return to conference play on Tuesday, March 9, when they host St. Gregory's University. Currently, SNU is 2-0 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.

(BETHANY, Okla.)---The Crimson Storm softball team opened their home season on Wednesday afternoon with two wins over Sooner Athletic Conference opponent, USAO. The two teams battled defensively throughout game one of the double header, but SNU rallied late, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth and going on to pick up a 5-2 victory over the Drovers. The second game was evenly matched as well, but another solid fifth inning performance from the Storm resulted in the 6-4 win, improving SNU to 4-2 on the season and 2-0 in SAC play.

SNU got off the a very slow start with their bats, but strong defense kept USAO off the scoreboard as well until the top of the fourth inning when the Drovers sent two runners in to score, taking a 2-0 lead. SNU responded in the bottom of the inning when Kristina Forest sent Shanna Buckles in to score with an RBI single, cutting the lead to just a run.

The Storm defense sent USAO back on the field shortly after, posting a three-up, three-down stand in the top of the fifth inning and giving SNU a chance to go to work at the plate. Facing their final out, the Storm got things going with a single from Katie Turner that advanced Karen Koloff to second. Both would move closer to the plate on a wild pitch shortly after, and Katie Hale knocked a long ball over the fence for a three-run RBI, giving the Storm a lead for the first time. Aubrey Jones tripled on the next at bat for SNU, and Kelli Billups sent Jones in to score with an RBI single, giving the Storm a 5-2 lead after five innings.

The margin would prove to be too much for USAO, and SNU escaped with the victory thanks to a late rally and solid defense. Kaci Crawford picked up the win on the mound, allowing two runs on seven hits in seven innings. Crawford struck out four while leading SNU to the victory.

Picking up where they left off, SNU tacked on a early run in the bottom of the first in game two. Jones picked up the RBI double to give the Storm an early lead, but USAO responded in the top of the second, scoring three runs. SNU trailed 4-1 after another run from the Drovers in the top of the third, but Turner scored on a RBI from Hale to chip away at the deficit slightly.

The fourth inning and the top of the fifth saw no changes in the score, with SNU trailing 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, however, the Storm went to work once again. Daphne Stewart opened the inning with a triple, and Turner reached on a walk, giving Hale an opportunity to send Stewart in to score with a RBI double. Reaching the plate a moment later was Turner on a RBI single from Jones.

Kelli Billups popped a sacrifice RBI into right field, sending Hale in to score, and Kristina Forest gave the Storm their final run of the inning with a RBI single. Both USAO and SNU were silent in the sixth, and a seventh inning three-up, three-down stand from the Storm sealed the 6-4 win.

Jordan Simmons and Tiffany Gossett split time on the mound in game two, with Gossett picking up the win. Simmons allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings, and Gossett allowed just one hit in three innings throwing.

 (BATESVILLE, ARK.)---The SNU softball team traveled to Arkansas to play four games on February 19 & 20. They played very well in their first competition of the season and ended up 2-2 after the four contests concluded. SNU's two wins came against Missouri Baptist and Lyon College, while their two losses came against Mid-America Nazarene and Central Baptist College. 

In their first game, they squared of with fellow Nazarene school, Mid-America Nazarene University. Kaci Crawford started the game on the mound for the Crimson Storm and she pitched an exceptional game. Crawford was excellent in the game, as she retired the first 13 batters that she faced until giving up a hit in the 5th inning. That was the only hit she gave up through five innings. After a game that saw no runs in the first four and a half innings, SNU was able to give Crawford some run support in the bottom of the fifth inning.

SNU had only one hit to that point in the game, but got three straight singles to start the inning from Keli Billups, Kristina Forest, and Allison Fields, to load the bases. Next up, Shanna Buckles, was able to record another single to drive in two runs. Later in the inning, with two outs, Amy Madden also singled, to drive in one more run. SNU would take a 3-0 lead into the top of the 6th. The top of the 6th inning was one that SNU would like to soon forget. Crawford, who had only given up one hit to this point of the game, would only give up two more runs in the top of the 6th. However, SNU recorded three errors in the inning that allowed MNU to score four runs and take a one run lead. All four runs were unearned.

SNU was not able to score another run and lost the game 4-3. Crawford pitched seven innings, giving up just three hits and no earned runs. Behind the plate, SNU was led by Kristina Forest, who was 2-for-3 with one run scored.

SNU vs MNU Box Score

SNU didn't have much time to recover as they would play again at 2 pm against Central Baptist College. Jordan Simmons got the start and pitched four innings. She was not able to get any run support during the game. Coming off of a very emotional defeat, SNU was only able to record four hits in the game and no runs. SNU lost the game 6-0.

SNU vs. CBC Box Score

After a rough first day, SNU went into the second day of competition with a renewed mindset. First up, they would face Missouri Baptist. After scoring just three runs (all in one inning) in the previous day in 14 innings of play, SNU wasted no time proving that they're bats are much better than that. In the top of the first inning, Daphne Stewart started the Storm off with a double. This triggered an offensive explosion that saw all nine SNU batters make it up to the plate in the first inning. Katie Hale, Amy Madden, and Aubrey Jones recorded singles in the inning, while Keli Billups and Kristina Forest doubled. After the inning, SNU had put up five runs in the inning to take a 5-0 lead.

Just one day removed from her first start of the season, Katie Crawford took to the mound again and gave up just one hit in the first three innings. SNU added a run in the top of the 3rd inning as Chelsea Lowell drove in Jones. After three innings of play, SNU led 6-1. In the top of the fourth inning, SNU added another run when Hale got a RBI double, scoring Katie Turner.

In the bottom of the fourth, MBU was able to get their bats going and they scored four runs, narrowing SNU's lead to 7-5. The start of the fifth inning triggered another offensive explosion for SNU. SNU was able to score four runs in the inning and extend their lead. Tiffany Gossett came in to relieve Crawford, who had pitched over 10 innings in just 24 hours. Gossett was excellent as she was able to hold MBU to just one run on three hits over the last three and two-third innings. SNU would add one more run in the 6th inning and four more in the seventh to finish off the game by a final score of 16-6.

Many SNU players had a great day at the plate. Jones, a sophomore from Norman, Okla., was 3-for-4 on the day with 4 runs and 3 RBI's. She hit her first homerun of the year in the game. Hale was 4-for-5 in the game with 3 RBI's. Second baseman, Stewart, was 3-for-5 with 3 runs and one RBI. Billups also had 3 RBI's for the Storm.

SNU vs MBU Box Score

Riding the success of their earlier win, SNU played their second game of the day in the afternoon and wasted no time picking up where they left off. In their last game of the trip, SNU faced Lyon College, the host college. Jordan Simmons took the mound again for the Storm and she was excellent. Simmons pitched the complete game and only allowed one hit and no runs. She struck out six batters. 

She got plenty of run support as SNU scored three runs in the first inning, one in the fifth, and six in the sixth inning. Daphne Stewart, SNU's leadoff hitter, was 3-for-4 in the game with 1 run and 1 RBI. Aubrey Jones was 2-for-4 for the game and knocked in 3 runs while scoring once herself. Katie Hale, who was 1-for-3 in the game with 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored, hit her first homerun of the season in the game.

SNU vs. Lyon Box Score

SNU now stands at 2-2 on the season and they showed some very bright signs in their first four games. They proved that they can hit the ball and score a lot of runs and that they have a strong pitching core that can nearly shut the opposing team out. SNU will look to build off of these games and continue improving. It's early in the season and there is still plenty of softball to be played, but the outlook for the season is very exciting.

(BETHANY, Okla.)---SNU’s softball team is coming off of its best season in history, in which they won 36 games, breaking the school’s total wins record. They also broke nearly every individual and team record. This year’s team is very talented and hopes to surpass the success of last year’s squad.

After starting 22-2 last year, SNU found themselves in the NAIA top 25 for the first time in school history. Their schedule got much tougher once conference play started. The Sooner Athletic Conference had 3 teams in the top 10 as well as a few other schools jumping in and out of the top 25. SNU’s season ended in the conference tournament. After winning their first game to advance to the second round, they were forced to the loser’s bracket after battling nationally ranked #2, Oklahoma City University, and eventually losing a heart-breaker, 2-0.

Overall, the 2009 softball season was a huge success. This year, SNU returns most of its players from last season and will look to have a great regular season, followed by a strong post-season run. SNU welcomes back their four top batters from last season and seven of their top nine overall.

Pitching Staff

SNU lost their ace pitcher from a year ago, Andrea Pare. They have replaced her with two transfers that look to make their own mark in the record books. Kaci Crawford is a 5’4 sophomore RHP from Paris, Texas, who transfers from Paris Junior College. She had a great freshman season at PJC,where she pitched in 48 games, compiling a record of 32-8. Her 32 wins was a new school record. She posted a very impressive 1.84 ERA and recorded 205 strikeouts. She was named All-Region last year. “Kaci is going to compliment our pitching staff and make us a lot stronger,” said Coach Webber. “We are blessed to get her at semester.”

Jordan Simmons, a 5’8 junior from Elgin, Okla., transfers to SNU from Louisiana Tech University. Simmons was an All-Region and All-State selection her senior year at Elgin High School. After graduation, she attended Louisiana Tech where she was an Academic All-WAC selection in 2008 and 2009. Asa sophomore, Simmons appeared in 8 games, posting a 1-0 record. She started 2 games and logged a total of 16.1 innings. She recorded an ERA of 5.57 and struck out 7 batters in her time on the mound. Coach Webber is very excited to have Simmons on the team this year, saying “Jordan is bringing great depth and maturity to our pitching staff. We are really looking forward to great things from her.”

Returning this year is Tiffany Gossett, a 5’9 junior from Sand Springs, Okla. Gossett will be a vital part of the SNU pitching staff this season. As a sophomore, Gossett pitched in 18 games for a total of 53.2 innings. She compiled a 2-6 record with a 5.35 ERA. She recorded 24 strikeouts while only walking 6 batters. “Tiff really makes us a complete staff,” said Coach Webber. “They all three have such different styles and strengths. They’ve worked really hard so they have high expectations for themselves.”

Infield

At first base, SNU happily welcomes back Katie Hale, a 5’7 junior from Baytown, Texas. Hale has led SNU the past two seasons in batting average, posting an astonishing .485 BA last season. She had 82 hits, 11 HR’s, 21 doubles, and 46 runs last season. Hale also shattered most of SNU’s single season batting records, including: slugging percentage (.805), on-base percentage (.551), hits (82), and RBI’s (57). Her 11 HR’s tied the school record. Katie does a great job at first base and will be looked to for her leadership both on the field and with her bat. Hale was named First Team All-SAC in 2009.

Third baseman Kelli Billups is also returning this season. Billups, a 5’3 junior from Mannford, Okla., was excellent in the field as she earned the Sooner Athletic Conference’s Gold Glove Award. She finished the season with 97 assists and a .945 fielding percentage in 164 chances. At the plate, she was also very impressive. On the season, she batted .401 with 43 RBI’s and 25 doubles. Her 25 doubles is a new school record.

Katie Turner, a 5’2 sophomore from Tuttle, Okla., will be returning at short stop this season. During her freshman year, Turner performed quite well. She started all 55 games and recorded a .344 batting average. She also scored 50 runs, a new school record. Her impressive season earned her Second Team All-SAC honors.

Starting second baseman from a year ago, Daphne Stewart returns this year after a solid sophomore campaign. Stewart, a 5’3 junior from Mannford, Okla., earned Honorable Mention All-SAC honors a year ago. She had a .324 batting average, 48 runs (2^nd best in school history), with 10 doubles and 6 HR’s.

At catcher, the Storm return Chelsea Lowell, a 5’2 senior from Bethany, Okla. She has been very consistent behind the plate throughout her career. Last season, she started 50 games at catcher and finished theseason with a .991 fielding percentage. She batted .277 with 2 HR’s and 15RBI’s. She was named an Academic All-American in 2009.

Bringing depth to catcher is Amy Madden, a 5’6 freshman from Yukon, Okla. She was an All-State and All-Conference player her senior year in high school. Mystal Perkins, a 5’4 sophomore from Burlington, Iowa, will also be a strong addition to this experienced infield, playing both short stop and second base.

SNU returns every starter from last year’s team in the infield. After playing a full season together, their improved team chemistry will definitely give them the opportunity at another record breaking season. This group of infielders is one of the strongest in the conference.

Outfield

Returning starters in the outfield are sophomores Aubrey Jones and Kristina Forest. Jones, a 5’7 sophomore from Norman, Okla., is back in center field for her sophomore season with big expectations. Last year she was named Second Team All-SAC after hitting .394 with 8 HR’s and 42 RBI’s. Her .658 slugging percentage is second best in school history behind teammate Katie Hale. Jones played exceptionally well in the field, as she did not record an error all season in 79 chances.

 Forest, a 5’9 sophomore from Glenwood, Ark., will be back in right field this season. Last year, Forest was second on the team in batting average, hitting .433. Forest made an immediate impact last season as a freshman, starting in 48 games and scoring 48 runs with 44 RBI’s. She cemented herself in the top 5 in school history in nearly every offensive statistical category, including: batting average (.433), runs (48), on-base percentage (.467), triples (4), hits (65), RBI’s (44), stolen bases (16), and slugging percentage (.633).

In the outfield, SNU also welcomes back Karen Koloff and Shanna Buckles. Koloff, a 6’0 senior from Tulsa, Okla., appeared in 25 games last season, hitting .158 for the season. She scored 7 runs and batted in 3 runs on the season.

Buckles, a 4’10 junior from Enid, Okla., appeared in 34 games last season. She recorded a batting average of .278 with 8 runs, 5 hits, and 2 RBI’s.

Transferring in from Seminole Junior College, Allison Fields, a 5’3 sophomore from Mooreland, Okla., will be breaking into the outfield lineup. She will bring both speed and a strong arm to the outfield.

 

Wrapup

SNU is in a perfect position to improve on their record-breaking season from a year ago. They return seven of their starters in the field and nearly all of their offensive firepower. This year’s softball team has the potential to turn a lot of heads in both the Sooner Athletic Conference and the NAIA. After being ranked 7^th in the SAC preseason poll, SNU has a chip on their shoulders and will be ready to prove how good they actuallyare.

 Overall, Coach Webber is very excited about the 2010 season. "It’s not where you start, it’s how you finish,” she said. “Last year was a great start but we didn’t finish. That’s the goal – FINISH!”

(BETHANY, Okla.)---Southern Nazarene University head softball coach, Tere Webber, has announced the signing of Bishop McGuiness High School senior, Emily Hale. Hale, a 5'4 third baseman/pitcher, will join the SNU softball team in the fall of 2010. 

Hale was a three year varsity player at Bishop McGuiness High School. She bats and throws right handed. During her junior season, she posted a .307 batting average. As a senior, she improved that to .312. She also competed in indoor soccer during high school.

"Emily has potential to work and develop into a strong player," said Coach Webber. "Strong arm and really hard, dedicated player."

Hale will join an SNU softball team that had their most successful season to date in 2009, finishing with a school record of 36 wins en rout to a 36-19 overall mark on the season.

(BETHANY, Okla.)---Southern Nazarene University head softball coach, Tere Webber, has announced the signing of Henryetta High School senior, Amanda Lewis. Lewis, a 5'5 catcher/3rd baseman, will join the SNU softball team in the fall of 2010.

Lewis was an excellent player for Henryetta High School in Henryetta, Oklahoma where she hit .346 as a senior and .320 as a junior. Her on-base percentage was .420 and .440 in those years, respectively. Lewis was named to the All-Conference team in 2007 and was named to the All-County team in 2008 and 2009. She helped her team qualify for the state tournament all four years, and was state runner-up in 2007. In the classroom, Lewis was the Valedictorian of her high school.

"Amanda is a great sign," said SNU Head Coach Tere Webber. "She is going to be a good stick with a strong arm. Great team player that knows how to work hard."

Lewis will join an SNU softball team that had their most successful season to date in 2009, finishing with a school record of 36 wins en rout to a 36-19 overall mark for the season.

(BETHANY, OKLA.)---Southern Nazarene University head softball coach, Tere Webber, has announced the signing of Mustang High School senior, Julie Brunk. Brunk, a 5'5 pitcher/outfielder, will join the SNU softball team in the fall of 2010.

Brunk was a standout at Mustang High School in Mustang, Oklahoma throughout her high school career. Brunk was a four-time Big All-City selection and earned All-District honors all four years of high school. Julie was also a 2006 and 2007 Golden Circle winner.

For her career, Brunk finished with a .500 batting average with 31 RBI's. On the mound, Brunk finished with a career record of 45-11 with a 0.93 ERA in 358.66 innings of work. Julie also finished with 251 strikeouts, 25 shutouts and two no-hitters. As a senior, Brunk was 14-3 with a 0.81 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 111.66 innings of work.

In the classroom, Brunk was on the Principal's and Superintendent's Honor Roll and earned the English and Spanish Award. Julie was also a renaissance student at Mustang.

“We are extremely excited to have Julie joining our program," said SNU Head Coach Tere Webber. "She has had an outstanding high school career and we are looking for her to continue her success from Mustang here at SNU."

Brunk will join an SNU softball team that had their most successful season to date in 2009, finishing with a school record of 36 wins en rout to a 36-19 overall mark for the season.

(BETHANY, OKLA.)---Southern Nazarene University head softball coach, Tere Webber, has announced the signing of Guthrie High School senior, Kacey Acker. Acker, a 5’6 first baseman/outfielder, will join the SNU softball team in the fall of 2010.

Acker was a standout at Guthrie High School in Guthrie, Oklahoma where she hit .432 as a senior. Also during her senior season, Kacey had 16 doubles, two triples, 15 RBI’s, and had a slugging percentage of .679 and an on-base percentage of .465. Acker was team captain and a four-year starter for Guthrie and earned All-Conference honors from 2007-09. As a freshman, Acker was named Newcomer of the Year.

“We are so excited to have Kacey joining us ...she brings so many things to our team,” said SNU Head Coach Tere Webber. “Her hitting, great arm, team mentality, leadership, work ethic...she is the total package. We are really looking forward to getting her here and on the field.”

Acker will join an SNU softball team that had their most successful season to date in 2009, finishing with a school record of 36 wins en rout to a 36-19 overall mark for the season.

(KANSAS CITY, MO.)---Southern Nazarene University sophomore softball player, Katie Hale, was named a Second Team NAIA All-American it was announced by the NAIA on Wednesday. 

Hale, a first baseman from Baytown, Texas, earns her first All-America honor after a superb sophomore campaign.  Hale led SNU in hitting with a .485 average, which was tops in the Sooner Athletic Conference and ranked 8th in the nation.  Hale's .485 average is a new school record for a single season.  Hale also set school single season marks for slugging percentage (.805), on-base percentage (.551), hits (82), RBI's (57), and tied the school mark for homers with eleven. 

Hale also earned First Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors after earning Second Team All-SAC honors as a freshman. 

Hale ranked nationally in a variety of categories, finishing the '09 season ranked 18th in hits per game (1.49), 18th in slugging percentage (.805), 20th in doubles per game (0.38), 22nd in total bases per game (2.47), and 31st in RBI's per game (1.03). 

SNU had their most successful season to date in 2009, finishing with a school record of 36 wins en rout to a 36-19 overall mark for the season.

To view the complete All-America list, click here...

http://naia.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/052009aaa.html