Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Crusaders gave themselves chances. Now they need to win the "game-changing pitches," according to head coach Rich Wagner.

The Northwest Nazarene softball team battled hard on the road only to see a few game-changing moments go the way of host Western Oregon as the Wolves swept the two teams' Great Northwest Athletic Conference season-opening doubleheader, 6-2 and 8-3 on Friday.

"We played two close games today," Wagner said, "when we start winning the game-changing pitches the wins will come."

Ashley Pesek hit a solo home run, part of a two-run rally in the second inning of the opening game that gave NNU (2-11, 0-2 GNAC) a quick advantage.

The Wolves (5-11, 2-0) quickly erased the Crusader lead though, helped by an error, plating four runs in the bottom half of the inning to change the game.

Western Oregon then tacked on a run in the fourth and another in the sixth, having stolen the game's momentum with its second-inning rally.

Pesek took the loss in the circle in the opener, despite a stellar performance that included 10 strikeouts.

"Ashley was executing her pitches and didn't get the calls in crucial moments," Wagner said. "She still pitched well enough to have 10 Ks; we need to learn how to win those games."

The nightcap turned out to be very similar as a Kendra Day RBI single gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, then Day scored on an error by the Wolves for a 2-0 advantage.

But a three-run rally for WOU in the bottom half of the frame, followed by a four-run fourth, gave the Wolves the breathing room they needed to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Pesek blasted her second home run of the day in the top of the sixth for NNU, which also got three hits in the twinbill from Carlton and a pair of hits each from Day and Lily Paschal in the nightcap.

The same two teams are back in action Saturday for another GNAC doubleheader hosted by the Wolves, with first pitch at 1 p.m. (MT).