Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BILLINGS, Mont. – Trailing 4-0 with their ace out of the game, the Northwest Nazarene softball team didn't give up.

Instead, the Nighthawks put together a total team effort to not only win the game, but also grab at least a share of the GNAC regular-season title.

NNU defeated Montana State Billings 6-5 on Saturday to grab the first title in program history and the No. 1 seed to the conference tournament next week.

"It was an incredible team win," NNU senior Lisa Sylvester said. "We knew in the back of our minds that if we won that game, we would be league champs. But we were living moment to moment.

"Everyone came together, the bench was on fire and it was a really special win."

The Nighthawks (28-21 overall, 19-9 GNAC) dropped the nightcap 6-4, but they'd already gotten what they came for.

"I don't really have words for it," Brittany Genuardi said of the title. "The difference from this year and last year is that we capitalize on errors from the other team and the hits we get. That is the whole reason we are in the position we are now. Being league champion for the first time is pretty indescribable."

Anna Williams hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth and Sylvester tied the game with a solo blast in the fifth. The Yellowjackets regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, before Genuardi hit a two-run shot in the sixth for the go-ahead runs.

"It kind of went in slow motion when I saw the pitch," Genuardi said. "It was a pretty big moment because we had been battling the whole game."

Rae Young came on in relief of Jordan Adams, who gave up three runs in two innings. Young said she was pretty nervous at the beginning because Billings was swinging the bats well, but she settled in quickly and earned the victory in the circle.

"The amount of energy that my team was filling into me helped me get through it," she said. "I just wanted to do what I could to shut them down. It was such a great moment. I loved how much the dugout was on fire pushing each other and all of the clutch hits we were getting."

NNU can win the title outright if Central Washington loses one of its two games Sunday with Saint Martin's. Even if the Wildcats sweep, though, NNU is guaranteed a title and the No. 1 seed.

NNU had already set program records for wins in a season, conference wins in a season and the first playoff berth in program history.

After Saturday's fireworks, the Nighthawks head to Concordia for the conference tournament from Thursday-Saturday. The winner of the tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. NNU will likely need to win the tournament to get in, as the Nighthawks are not ranked in the regional rankings which decide the at large bids.

Before those games, though, the Nighthawks will certainly take a little time to bask in the glory of a conference crown.

"It's an awesome feeling to be part of a program that works hard and knows how to win together and win for each other," Sylvester said.