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NAMPA, Idaho – There were tears, flowers, photos and proud parents: Everything you'd expect on "Senior Day."

And despite a valiant effort by the Crusaders, the only thing missing was a win as St. Martin's swept a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader, 8-0 and 11-7, in the regular-season finale for Northwest Nazarene's softball team at Halle Field on the NNU campus on Saturday.

"We played really well today," said NNU head softball coach Rich Wagner, adding, "it was tough saying good-bye to our seniors in the second game, but I think we came out and played well doing our best to send them out on a good note."

The Crusaders (9-36, 2-22 GNAC) honored seniors Kendra Day, Gatalina Schuster, Whitney Carlton and Brianna Kinghorn between games, then Schuster lined a three-run home run over the center-field fence, spotting NNU to a 3-0 lead after one inning in the nightcap.
 

The Saints (40-16, 20-4), who Friday clinched the regular-season GNAC title, chipped away and eventually forged a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but a determined Crusader squad tied it on an Ali Schauer RBI single in the bottom half of the frame.

St. Martin's broke the game open a bit with a five-run rally in the fifth, but the Crusaders, determined to send off their seniors in style, rallied.

An Abigail Watkins RBI single made it a 9-5 ballgame before a two-run Schauer homer trimmed the difference to 9-7 after six innings.

That's where the comeback ended, though, as the Saints tacked on two in the top of the seventh to insurance the win and spoil a strong effort by NNU on "Senior Day."

A farewell that saw Day, Carlton and Schuster each collect a hit in their final game in NNU uniforms.

During the "Senior Day" festivities, Coach Wagner and assistant coach Joel Oliver gave Day, Schuster, Carlton and Kinghorn a heart-felt send-off.

"We would like to thank these seniors and their parents for all their hard work on the field and in the classroom," Wagner said. "I also want to thank them for the love they have shown my family. You will always be a part of our family and I am very proud to call you Crusaders."

The final battle of the season came after the Saints inched ever so slowly out to the first-game win in six innings, getting a run in the second, five runs in the fourth, then a run in each the fifth and sixth innings for the mercy-rule victory.

"Their pitcher is at the top of our conference for a reason, but I thought we put some good at-bats together," Wagner said of the opening loss against St. Martin's ace Sam Munger who improved to 22-4 throwing a four-hitter.

Lily Paschal led NNU's offense in the first game with a pair of hits.