A steal of home plate with the bases loaded by Southeastern Oklahoma in the top of the eighth inning tied the game, 3-all. The Savage Storm (11-7, 2-2 GAC) would take the lead, 4-3, in the ninth inning and went on to win the opening game of the conference series by that score on Friday afternoon at Clyde Berry Field.

A total of 20 base runners were left on base throughout the game as the two teams issued 10 bases on balls and hit seven batters. The traffic on the base paths did not result in many runs however, as neither team was able to pick up the damaging hit.

Key to the not letting the runners come around to score was the two starting pitchers' ability to work out of trouble. The Reddies' (10-7, 2-2 GAC) Nathan Eller was forced to do it more often in the game as he only had two innings where he did not allow a runner to reach. In his seven innings of work, Eller scattered four hits, but two walks and six hit batsmen made Eller work mostly out of the stretch.

The offensive behind Eller would stake him to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. In that frame Zac Zdanowic would lead off with a walk. Connor Brackhan would follow with a bunt single. Zdanowic would be chased home on a RBI single to left field by Josh Salmon. A walk of Michael Schell would load the bases. Brackhan would score on a double play groundout. A single by Michael Corso would plate the third run of the inning.

Southeastern would score their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning. In the eighth inning, a single, a walk, and a hit batsman loaded the based with no outs and would spell the end for Eller, who left with the tying run on second base. Pitching in relief of Eller was Dustin Hudson. A walk to the first batter he would face scored a run and moved the tying run to third base. Hudson would strikeout the next two batters. With two outs and after Hudson delivered a strike on an 0-1 count, Southeastern's Kevin Philips would successfully steal home to tie the game.

The Savage Storm would load the bases up once more in the ninth inning on three hits, but were only able to plate one run. The Reddies would threaten in the bottom of the frame as they loaded the bases with two outs. SEOSU's Cameron Mann would close out the game as he picked up a strikeout for the third and final out.

The Reddies will resume their three-game series with Southeastern Oklahoma as they will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10th at Clyde Berry Field. First pitch is set for noon.