Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Crusaders happily will take the split as they work on finding a way to start scoring sweeps.

The Northwest Nazarene softball team started its Great Northwest Athletic Conference campaign in fine fashion Friday afternoon, scoring an 8-run mercy-rule win over pre-season league favorite Western Washington, 10-2.

Now head coach Rich Wagner wants to see his young team — NNU has just two seniors on its roster and started six freshmen in the twinbill — keep that intensity and focus for a full doubleheader, as the host Vikings took control in the nightcap for an 8-0 victory.

"We played all facets of the game very well in game one," Wagner said of NNU's victory.
 

Brooke Bonsen (3-3) set the tone for the Crusaders (7-8 overall, 1-1 GNAC) in the circle as she struck out three, scattered seven hits and allowed just two runs.

With Bonsen holding the Vikings (9-7, 4-2) at bay, her teammates broke out offensively as a Kylie Orr three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning snapped a 2-2 tie, and a dropped Cassidy Fifield fly ball in the top of the fifth innings plated three runs in a five-run surge that ended the game.

"Brooke pitched great, she did a good job hitting her spots," Wagner said, adding, "Kylie Orr had a break out game today.

"As a team we came out ready to play in game one," NNU's coach added. "We need to learn how to get ourselves ready to play our best softball in game two."

Orr added a two-run double in the top of the first of the opener, as well, as she went 3-for-3 with five RBIs.

Everything went the Vikings way in the nightcap, though, as Shearyna Labasan gave up just one hit in Western Washington's 8-0, five-inning win.

Anna Olson had that lone hit for NNU, which plays another doubleheader at Western Washington today with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. (Mountain Time).