Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ROCKLIN, Calif. – A day late, the Crusaders finally got their 2015 season underway in California, and two of the team's three parts played great.

But after seeing opening day canceled Tuesday, Northwest Nazarene's softball team put too much pressure on its own offense and fell, 4-0 in 8 innings, and 6-4, to host William Jessup on Wednesday.

"Our defense was great today and Ashley Pesek pitched very well," NNU head softball coach Rich Wagner said. "If our offense shows up we pull out two wins today.

"We didn't swing the bat well at all," Wagner added. "After waiting around two days to play, the girls were pressing at the plate trying to do too much the first day out."

Pesek and Gatalina Schuster each had a hit in the opener, but that was all the Crusaders (0-2) mustered against the Warriors (3-3), who opened their season with four games last week.

William Jessup didn't do much more offensively, not until extra innings. Then, Brittany Lamar hit a one-out grand slam to end the game.

NNU's offense did much better in the nightcap as Brianna Kinghorn doubled home two runs in the top of the first inning, Whitney Carlton walked and scored when Alyssa Nitschelm was hit by a pitch, then Kinghorn hit a solo homer in the fourth, giving the Crusaders a 4-0 lead.

That lead held up until a 6-run rally in the bottom of the fifth by the Warriors, who rallied with two outs to steal the win.

Kinghorn, Pesek, Lisa Sylvester and Aubree Shepherd each had a pair of hits in the nightcap for the Crusaders, who head to Las Vegas to continue what is now a seven-game, season-opening road trip at the Desert Stinger Classic.

NNU plays Notre Dame de Namur and Minot State on Friday to open the tournament.

"We need to get our offensive going to complement our defense and pitching," Wagner said, looking ahead. "When that happens, this team should see a lot of success."