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NAMPA, Idaho — A day after lacking the clutch base hits, the Crusaders turned the tables and made all the clutch plays on Saturday.

"We did a good job winning the game-changing pitches in the circle, on defense and at the plate," NNU head coach Rich Wagner said.

Winning those game-changing moments led the Northwest Nazarene softball team to 6-4 and 6-3 wins over a Western Oregon as the Crusaders swept a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Halle Field on Saturday on the NNU campus.

Brittany Genuardi hit a grand slam to get NNU (19-19 overall, 9-7 GNAC) rolling in the opener, and her RBI single in the top of the fifth inning — as the Crusaders were the visiting team on the scoreboard in the series relocated from Monmouth, Ore. because of poor field conditions at Western Oregon — put her team on top 5-0 en route to the victory.

"Brittany came up with a big hit for us to get us going," Wagner said.
 

Brooke Bonsen (10-9) struck out three in the win and Abigail Watkins earned her first save in relief.

The Crusaders then started the nightcap strong as Lisa Sylvester and Shelbie Martinez each singled in a run to put NNU up 2-0 in the top of the first inning.

A Lily Paschal RBI single in the top of the fifth then snapped a 2-2 tie before Martinez singled home two more, and the Crusaders added a run on an error, for a comfortable 6-2 lead.

Plenty of offense for Rylee Thomas (8-7), who also struck out three batters for NNU in the circle in a complete-game victory.

"Brooke and Rylee did an outstanding job pitching today," Wagner said. "Day two is always a challenge for pitchers and they did great.

"Offensively we found barrel consistently all day," NNU's coach added as the Crusaders quickly erased the memory of just two runs in Friday's doubleheader.

Genuardi led the way in the opener offensively, going 2-for-3 with five RBIs and finishing the day 3-for-7, while Martinez was 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the nightcap, and was 4-for-7 in the twinbill.

The Crusaders now continue a 4-week home-stand to close out the regular season by hosting Saint Martin's in doubleheaders next Friday and Saturday.