TURLOCK, Calif. – Northwest Nazarene senior Lauren Bassett was on her first road trip of the season this week at the Tournament of Champions.

The Elementary Education major hasn't been able to travel because of student teaching, but since it is Spring Break she made the trip.

And the Nighthawks (17-16) are certainly glad she did.

The right fielder was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as NNU defeated Cal State East Bay 8-0 to salvage a win in the tournament. NNU lost 1-0 in eight innings to Cal State Dominguez Hills earlier in the day.

"Lauren sparked the lineup in Game 2," NNU coach Rich Wagner said. "She got us going and then our offense started clicking again."

Not only had Bassett not been traveling, but she also hadn't started this weekend after getting hit by a line drive during practice Tuesday.

She made the most of her start.

With the game scoreless in the second inning, the Nighthawks had scored just four runs in their last four games.

NNU had runners at second and third with no outs, but Shelbie Martinez popped out and Anna Olson grounded out.

Bassett then stepped to the plate and singled to right to give NNU a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, she tripled and scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

Meanwhile, Rylee Thomas was dealing in the circle. The junior had her best game of the season, throwing seven shutout innings.

The Nighthawks blew the game open in the seventh as – you guessed it – Bassett had a one-out single went to third on an Anna Williams single and scored on a Cassidy Fifield double.
Abigail Otto added a two-run homer in the inning and Martinez had a run-scoring single.

"The pitching and defense were great all day," Wagner said. "The girls played outstanding defense with multiple diving plays."

Kylie Orr finished 3-for-3 with a walk, Otto was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, Williams was 2-for-4 and Fifield drove in two runs.

In the opener, Jordan Adams was brilliant in the circle, striking out 12 and allowing just an unearned run in extra innings.

NNU only had two runners in scoring position in the game, including one who was placed at second base to start the extra inning.

"Game 1 was a fun game to be a part of, we just came up one hit short," Wagner said. "Rylee and Jordan threw outstanding today."

Williams, Orr, Rae Young and Otto each had a hit.

NNU heads back into GNAC play with a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday at Western Oregon.