Box Score

NAMPA, Idaho – Once again, the Crusaders came close.

Looking to end a 10-game homestand on a high note, the Northwest Nazarene softball team played Great Northwest Athletic Conference leader Western Oregon tough for six innings before the Wolves rallied late for a 9-0 win at Halle Field on the NNU campus Saturday afternoon.

"Played great for six innings," NNU softball coach Rich Wagner said. "Needed a clutch hit with the bases loaded to go ahead early and we didn't get it."

A lack of clutch hits proved costly in the loss for NNU, as the Crusaders (8-21 overall, 2-9 GNAC) put a runner at third with no one out in the bottom of the second, but could not score, leaving the bases loaded.

Western Oregon (22-11, 13-1) answered with a run in the third and one more in the fifth.

The Crusaders tried to erase that 2-0 deficit as Ali Schauer led off with a single to right in the bottom of the fifth, but was stranded, and Justine Callen led off the sixth with a single to center, but also was stranded.

The Wolves then iced the win with a seven-run rally in the seventh, helped by a pair of NNU errors.

"They are a very good team and you can not give them outs," Wagner said.

Callen finished with a pair of hits to lead the offense for NNU, which now hits the road to play five games in Cal State Stanislaus' Tournament of Champions on Friday and Saturday.

"We need to work hard and get ready for five games in Turlock," Wagner said.