NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene University softball team fell 11-3 and 8-4 to Central Washington University on Tuesday in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Halle Field in Nampa.

The wins push Central Washington to 10-12 overall and 7-3 in conference play, while the Crusaders fall to 1-25 overall and 1-9 in league games.

The Wildcats jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the opener, scoring all eight in the third inning that featured a Mallory Holtman two-run home run to left field.  It was her 33rd career home run and she is now the GNAC leader in career home runs.  Holtman put a charge in to a ball in the sixth, only to see Crusader left fielder Cortnee Crane go over the fence to make the catch, stealing number 34.

NNU scored two in the fourth when Haley Hevern doubled and then scored on a Kate Free triple down the left field line.  Shawna Juarez then plated Free with a single to right.

CWU would add three in the seventh after three consecutive walks led to a Tarn Potter three-run double.

Linse Vlahovich (5-7) earned the win for CWU and Rachel Bare (1-13) took the loss for the Crusaders.

Hevern continues to lead the Crusader offense, going five-for-eight on the day, with Jael Henthorn adding three hits and Crane smacking a two-run double in the sixth inning of game two.

Central Washington scored eight runs on 12 hits in game two, allowing Katriina Reime to improve to 3-3 overall in the circle.  Dana Shipley took the loss and falls to 0-11 for the Crusaders, who scored four runs on nine hits.

NNU will now travel to Montana and face the University of Great Falls in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and then move to Montana State Billings for a GNAC twinbill on Saturday at 11 a.m.