Game one
Game two

NAMPA, Idaho - The Central Washington softball team slipped past Northwest Nazarene 6-2 and 4-3 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader this afternoon at Halle Field.

 

The Crusaders (8-11, 7-7 GNAC) will now travel to Simon Fraser University for a four-game weekend series against the Clan in British Columbia.

 

Central Washington (9-6, 7-3 GNAC) scored two in the second, three in the third and one in the seventh of the opener, supporting starting pitcher Lauren Hadenfeld (7-4) for the victory.  Bre Thomas, Keilani Cruz, Kelsey Haupert, Liz Jusko and Carrina Wagner each finished with two hits.  Haupert and Molly Coppinger each had two RBI.

 

NNU scored single runs in the sixth and seventh, both coming off CWU reliever Jessica Harris.  Emily Renfrow led off the sixth with a walk and advanced to third on an Arielle Chao single.  Chelsea Allsbrook then plated Renfrow with a fielder's choice ground ball to the shortstop.  In the seventh, Liz Beaty sent a line-drive over the center field wall for her second home run of the season.

 

Chelsey Anderson (4-4) took the loss for NNU.

 

Game two went scoreless into the fifth inning before the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on a Kristina Sherriff triple and an Elena Carter sacrifice fly to left field.  The Crusaders answered with two in the bottom of the fifth when Cat Lowery reached on a fielding error by Haupert and Haley Hevern doubled down the left field line, moving Lowery to third.  Lowery would then immediately score on a wild pitch by Harris and Hevern would come home on a Sarah Varady RBI single to center field.

 

CWU rebounded to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth after Cruz singled and Haupert hit her fourth home run of the year, a two-run blast to center field.

 

The Crusaders rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie it at 3-3 after a Chao single and walks by both Lowery and Varady loaded the bases.  Becky Louber then smacked a two-out single into left field, plating Chao for the equalizer.

 

The Wildcats would score the game-winner in the seventh off a two-out error in the Crusader outfield that allowed Thomas to reach first.  Following the miscue, Cruz singled and Haupert was sent to first with an intentional walk, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Brittany Hope.  Falling behind 0-2 in the count, Hope was hit by the 1-2 pitch, plating Thomas for the game-winner.

 

Nicole Grummons (4-7) took the loss, while Hadenfeld grabbed the win in relief of starter Maria Gau and Lindy Baxter.