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LAS VEGAS — The Crusaders found themselves fighting for an early-season win streak Saturday in Las Vegas.

Lisa Sylvester's RBI sacrifice fly gave Northwest Nazarene a lead, which proved to be the game-winner, and Rae Young closed out the seventh inning for the save as the Crusaders topped Minot State, 4-3, on Saturday morning to start their day at the Desert Stinger Classic hosted by Montana State Billings.
 

The win gave NNU a two-game win streak in the event, a streak that came to an end with a 6-2 setback to Cal State San Bernardino as the Crusaders closed out their opening weekend on the road Saturday afternoon.

"Game one we did a great job of weathering the storm when one inning could have lost the game for us," NNU head coach Rich Wagner said. "In game two we ran into a really good pitcher and made a few key mistakes that let them get on the scoreboard.

"Every day we are improving and moving towards our potential," Wagner added. "The girls are having consistent quality at-bats and it's starting to show on the scoreboard." 

Coming off a 13-6 victory late Friday night over New Mexico Highlands, the Crusaders (2-5 overall) jumped in front early against the Beavers on a Brittany Genuardi RBI double in the bottom of the first inning.

Shelbie Martinez added a two-run double in the third inning, then Sylvester's sac fly to center-field pushed the Crusaders lead to 4-2 after four innings.

Minot State answered with a run in the sixth before Young closed the door in the seventh for her first collegiate save.

Genuardi led the NNU attack, going 3-4, while Cassidy Fifield and Madison Strickler was 2-for-4. Brooke Bonsen (2-2) struck out three in six innings work in the circle to earn the win.

Looking to stretch their win streak to three-in-a-row, instead NNU found itself in an early hole as the Coyotes scored a pair of runs in each of the first, second and fourth innings.

Undaunted, the Crusaders tried to rally as Strickler scored on a Lily Paschal RBI fielder's choice in the top of the fifth inning, and Fifield scored on an error in the sixth inning, but that was all NNU could muster.

"We played some of the top teams in the region this weekend and faced very good pitching," Wagner said. "All-in-all I think we made some really good progress towards our goals over the seven games.

"The girls are ready to make a few adjustments and get back on the field this week," NNU coach added.  

Fifield, Kylie Orr, Sylvester, Strickler and Martinez all had a hit in the finale for the Crusaders, who return to the diamond for a trio of road doubleheaders next weekend starting with a twinbill at San Francisco State at 1 p.m. (Pacific time) on Thursday.