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TURLOCK, Calif. — The Crusaders are playing with confidence, and it showed Friday in California.

Expecting to win, no matter who the foe, the Northwest Nazarene softball team took 2-of-3 games to open the Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State, beating Azusa Pacific, 2-1, and scoring an 8-0 win over Dominican in six innings.

That before a long day on the diamond wore on the NNU ladies, who fell to a late Sonoma State rally, 9-1, in six innings late Friday night.

"We played good softball today," said NNU head coach Rich Wagner, whose team has now won 8 of its last 11 contests. "The girls are competing at a high level and they expect to win every time they are on the field."

Starting with their opener against the Cougars (21-13) as Shelbie Martinez reached on an error and scored on another in the bottom of the second inning, then Brittany Genuardi added an RBI single, which proved to be the game-winner, in the bottom of the third.

Just enough for Brooke Bonsen (9-7) who didn't strike out a batter but let her defense do all the work in a 2-1 win to start the day.

Rylee Thomas (6-6) then followed up that strong start with a one-hit shutout of the Penguins (14-17), striking out four and not allowing a base-runner until the sixth inning.

Kylie Orr and Genuardi each drove in a run in the top of the third inning, giving NNU (16-16 overall, 7-5 GNAC) a lead it never relinquished.
Orr then plated two more in a five-run fifth.

Martinez also had an RBI in the fifth-inning rally, then Orr's third hit of the game led to a another RBI and the 8-0 NNU lead, a lead that finished the mercy-rule victory.

"Brooke and Rylee did a great job in the circle giving us a chance to win games," Wagner said.

Abigail Watkins did too, getting the start in the nightcap, and NNU again started strong against the Seawolves (26-8) as a Genuardi RBI single to right field put the Crusaders up 1-0 after a half inning.

Sonoma State tied it with a run in the third, and it stayed tied into the fifth before the long day at the diamond caught up to NNU, which saw the Seawolves plate three in the bottom of the fifth, then five more in the sixth inning for the victory.

Still, a very good opening day at the event for NNU, which was led offensively by Cassidy Fifield who went 4-for-9 at the plate and stole two bases.

Orr and Genuardi each added three hits on the day for the Crusaders, who wrap up play in the Tournament of Champions on Saturday against UC San Diego at 10 a.m. (Mountain Time) and Holy Names at 12:30 pm (Mountain Time).