NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene softball team split a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against 28th-ranked nationally Western Oregon on Saturday afternoon, falling 14-8 in the opener, but bouncing back for a 6-5 win in the nightcap at Halle Field.

 

Western Oregon (5-3, 5-3 GNAC) used the long-ball in game one as Jessica Hallmark hit two three-run blasts and finished the game three for five with eight RBI.  Also adding to the home-run totals were Amanda Fleer (3) and Kendra George (1) who both smacked solo dingers.

 

Arielle Chao led the Crusaders (2-6, 2-6 GNAC) in the opener, going three for four with four RBI, including a bases-clearing double in the second and a solo home run in the sixth, the first of her collegiate career. 

 

Cara Duckworth (1-3) took the loss, while WOU's Jessica Wood (3-0) earned the win in long relief of Jessie Lessard.

 

Cat Lowery, Vanessa Shaw and Brooke Hesselgesser each had two hits in the nightcap as the Crusaders plated the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh. 

 

Cortnee Crane set up the heroics with a two-run two-out single in bottom of the sixth to tie it at 5-5 and then Chelsey Anderson (1-3) was able to strand Western Oregon's Kendra George at third in the top of the seventh to earn her first collegiate win in the circle.

 

Hesselgesser doubled to right center to lead off the Crusader rally and NNU head coach Julie Coert then used Elizabeth Beaty to pinch-run for Hesselgesser.  Beaty moved to third on a wild pitch, and following an Anderson walk, Beaty scored the game-winner, hustling home on a passed ball.

 

The Crusaders are back in action on Tuesday when they host Eastern Oregon University in a non-conference doubleheader at Halle Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.