NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene softball team picked itself up off the mat Friday and may have saved their season in the process.

The Nighthawks lost a crushing Game 1 4-3 against Saint Martin's on Friday before breaking out the bats in the nightcap to win 11-3 in five innings.

While the split keeps NNU (20-19 overall, 9-9 GNAC) at .500 in conference on the season, it does keep them three games back in the loss column with 10 to play.

"I think it was a statement win," NNU's Kylie Orr said. "We have a ton of respect for that team, but we felt we underperformed in that first game. So, it was nice to come back and play a game our way and to finally play Nighthawk softball, which hasn't happened in a while."

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, the Nighthawks sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs on nine hits.

"We definitely count on each other and after one hit is made, we rally for each other," NNU's Lauren Bassett said. "It was super important. Our team needed that. We haven't scored 10 runs in an inning in I don't know how long, but it is great to know our offense is back and that we are ready."

With one out in the third inning, Cassidy Fifield, Anna Williams, Orr, Abigail Otto and Shelbie Martinez all singled to make it 2-1 with the bases loaded.

Saint Martin's brought in Game 1 starter Brandi Schoessler at that point, but she walked Madison Strickler to make it 3-1.

After Rae Young struck out, Maia McNicoll singled through the right side to make it 4-1 and then Bassett cleared the bases with a three-run double for a 7-1 lead.

Fifield and Williams then walked to reload the bases and Orr promptly cleared them with a double up the gap for a 10-1 lead.

Otto then singled in the final run for an 11-1 lead.

"It's always fun because we've been kind of struggling the last few weeks to get things rolling," Orr said. "So, to finally get everything to click is kind of a breath of fresh air to be able to do what we know we are capable of and to score a bunch of runs."

Orr finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, Bassett was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Otto was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Maia McNicoll earned her second win of the season, allowing two runs on five hits in four innings.

In the opener, NNU was poised to win the game leading 3-1 with one out in the seventh.

Saint Martin's Nicki DeHan then singled and Sabrina Hicks reached on an error to put runners at first and second. Kylee Vanderbout then pinch hit and singled to center, where the ball bounced past Cassidy Fifield and two runs scored to tie the game. Vanderbout went to third.

Emily Thornton then hit a long foul ball that was caught, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

"The loss in Game 1 is something we've been battling," NNU coach Rich Wagner said. "It's that one inning monster where we don't focus when we should and it came at a bad time.

"Game 2 was really nice to set the standard offensively. I'm really proud of our pitching today and our bounce back."

Williams hit her 11th home run of the season in the opener, blasting a two-run shot on a line to right center field. Martinez added a long double off the right-field wall to score the Nighthawks' third run.

NNU hosts Saint Martin's (18-19, 8-10) in another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Saturday.