PORTLAND, Ore. – The Northwest Nazarene softball team opened the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships with an 8-0, five-inning loss to Central Washington.

The Nighthawks (27-23), who won the tournament last year and advanced to the NCAA West Regional for the first time, struggled offensively against the top-seeded Wildcats.

NNU managed just two hits, while striking out four times. Anna Williams and Rae Young each had a single.

"We need to get in a groove tomorrow and move past today," NNU coach Rich Wagner said. "We have to focus on the details and have fun."

The Nighthawks will play Western Oregon at 1:30 p.m. MDT on Friday in an elimination game. For the Nighthawks to get back to the national tournament they will have to win four games in a row, including two Friday and two more Saturday.

Rylee Thomas took the loss, allowing four runs – one earned – on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Her defense made two errors behind her.

Jordan Adams came on in relief and allowed four runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

Central Washington scored three times in the third to take a 4-0 lead thanks to an error and a pair of two-out hits.

The Wildcats added four in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run, a two-out double and a pair of two-out singles.

Central Washington is now 5-0 against NNU on the season and will face Concordia at 10 a.m. PDT on Friday in the semifinals.