Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TURLOCK, Calif. — The Crusaders got at least the one win they wanted and finished up a hectic weekend in California on a happy note.

The Northwest Nazarene softball team concluded a five-game in two-day stretch at the Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State with a split on Saturday, falling 7-2 in a battle with UC San Diego, before knocking off Holy Names, 7-1.

That after NNU went 2-1 on Friday as the Crusaders concluded the busy weekend with a 3-2 mark.

"I'm very happy with the way the girls bounced back today," NNU head coach Rich Wagner said. "Five games in 26 hours is tough mentally and physically, but we were able to finish the weekend strong."

The Crusaders finished strong with another dominating effort in the circle from Rylee Thomas (7-6), who struck out two and allowed just one run on six hits in five innings in the win over Holy Names.

A Kylie Orr RBI groundout in the top of the third inning tied the score, 1-1, then Lauren Bassett and Cassidy Fifield added an RBI single each to spot Thomas a 3-1 lead in the fourth.

Bassett then capped a four-run top of the fifth inning with a two-run single to right, giving Thomas plenty of support, and the 7-1 lead.

Alli Byron added two shutout innings of relief to wrap up the victory for the Crusaders, who got a pair of hits each from Brittany Genuardi, Madison Strickler, and Rae Young in the win.

Bassett led all the NNU hitters, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the victory.

That after the Crusaders (17-17 overall, 7-5 GNAC) battled hard only to fall to UC San Diego in their opener on Saturday, as the Tritons chipped away with a solo run in each the first and second innings, and two more runs in the third inning.

Down 7-0, a Strickler two-run home run to left-center in the top of the seventh for NNU cut into the margin, but the road-weary Crusaders couldn't get closer.

Fifield and Abigail Otto added a hit each in the early game for NNU, which after the five-game tournament road-trip now returns to GNAC play at Western Oregon next weekend, playing doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.