CALDWELL, Idaho - Taking the opening game 9-4, the Northwest Nazarene softball team split a midweek non-conference doubleheader with The College of Idaho at Symms Field on the C of I campus.  The Coyotes took the nightcap 5-2.

The Crusaders (5-27) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and never trailed in game one.  They used a four-run fourth, keyed by a two-run Kate Free double, to put the game out of reach.

Free drove in four runs for NNU, while Rachel Bare had two hits and three runs scored.  Butcher hit a two-run homer for the Yotes, her third of the season, while Dani Villyard had three hits in the loss.

Haley Butcher provided the offense for The C of I in game two, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI single, as the Yotes opened up a 5-0 lead and cruised to the win.  The Coyotes, ranked 20th in the NAIA, sit at 14-9 overall.

The Crusaders will return to the diamond on Saturday when they travel to Central Washington for a GNAC twinbill against the Wildcats.  First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.