LACEY, Wash. - The Northwest Nazarene University softball team fell twice on Thursday at Saint Martin's University, 3-2 and 5-1, in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference openers for both teams in Lacey.

Shawna Juarez led the Crusader offense, going four-for-six with one RBI.  Cat Lowery went three-for-three in the opener, scored one run and had one RBI.

The Crusaders (0-2 GNAC, 0-15) scored single runs in the third and fourth innings of the opener, but Saint Martin's (2-0 GNAC, 9-11) answered in the fourth with one and then plated the game winners in the fifth.

Amanda Phillips led NNU in the nightcap, going two-for-three with the lone NNU RBI in the sixth.

Rachel Bare (0-9) took both losses for the Crusaders, while Casey South (2-4) earned the win for the Saints and Brandi Klemm picked up her first save of the season.  Alicia Fuchs (4-1) earned the win in game two.

The Crusaders will next travel to Western Oregon for a GNAC doubleheader against the Wolves tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m.