Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NAMPA, Idaho – One miscue spoiled the start to the day, and one big swing kept the day from getting any better for the Crusaders.

Northwest Nazarene's softball team battled hard but came up one play short in a 3-2 setback against Eastern Oregon at Halle Field to start the day in the College of Idaho/Northwest Nazarene Softball Classic.

Then, building momentum in a comeback, the Crusaders saw one big swing from British Columbia break the game open in the top of the seventh in a 12-5, NNU setback.

"We didn't do a good job of putting all parts of the game together today," said NNU head softball coach Rich Wagner.

"We didn't hit well with runners in scoring position and that hurt us all day," NNU's skipper added.

Things started well for NNU (2-9), though, as Alyssa Nitschlem singled home a run in the top of the second for the Crusaders – who played as the visitor against EOU – then Whitney Carlton doubled in a run to make it 2-0 in the top of the third.

The Mountaineers (7-4) answered with a run in the bottom of the third, but NNU looked to be in control with Ashley Pesek dominating in the circle for the Crusaders.
 

Nothing changed in terms of Pesek's performance either, but an error opened the door for the Mountaineers in the bottom of the fifth and Cassie Wendt took advantage with an RBI double.

Wendt then scored on the second error in the inning, putting the Mountaineers on top 3-2.

That lead held up as NNU pushed runners to second and third in the top of the sixth, looking to answer, but the Crusaders stranded both before going three up, three down in the seventh to close out the game.

"We pitched really well in game one but had one defensive miscue that cost us two runs," Wagner said.

NNU tried to shake the first-game setback with a strong start to its second game of the day as Brianna Kinghorn and Lisa Sylvester each had RBI singles in a two-run, first-inning rally against UBC.

But the Thunderbirds (7-15) answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second and a four-run rally in the third.

Undaunted, the Crusaders came charging back as Lily Paschal singled in a run in the fourth and Morgan Thome plated two more in the rally, closing the gap to 7-5.

NNU looked poised to finish the comeback when the T-Birds' Shayla Kaplen ripped a bases loaded double that cleared the sacks during a five-run, top of the seventh surge that iced the win.

"We need to start consistently winning the game-changing plays," said Wagner.

"This week we will do our best to get healthy and work hard to put all phases of the game together," added NNU's coach, whose team is back in action next weekend with back-to-back doubleheaders at Western Oregon on Friday and Saturday to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Nitschelm, Carlton and Kinghorn led NNU's offense with three hits each on the day as each hit safely in both contests.