PORTLAND, Ore. – The best two-year run in Northwest Nazarene softball history came to an end Friday just short of a second national tournament berth.

The Nighthawks lost 5-2 to Central Washington in a GNAC Softball Championships elimination game at Concordia University in Portland, Ore. NNU defeated Western Oregon 3-0 in an elimination game earlier in the day.

"We played really, really well today," NNU coach Rich Wagner said. "Nobody wants to end their season, but I feel like we are going out on a high note."

NNU (28-24) has reason to look forward while also celebrating the past.

Freshman Maia McNicoll pitched seven strong innings in the loss giving a glimpse at a potential ace in the future.

McNicoll gave the Nighthawks a chance to win for the first time this season against the Wildcats, but the offense couldn't catch a break.

"We hit great, but sometimes the ball just doesn't fall your way," NNU senior Anna Williams said. "We lined out a lot and that went in their favor. It's been a great ride and I'm very happy I came to NNU. I wouldn't do it any different."

NNU had eight hits and runners in scoring position, but couldn't find a way to break through.

"I was really proud of our effort today," NNU senior Kylie Orr said. "Yesterday, we just let them have it. They are a quality team and we knew it was going to be tough to beat them, but we gave it everything we had and it didn't go our way today."

Central Washington, which went 6-0 against NNU this season, defeated the Nighthawks 8-0 in five innings in the tournament opener Thursday.

"They are definitely a quality team," Orr said. "In almost all of the games, we put ourselves in a position where one play or one moment could've changed the game."

NNU trailed 2-0 after two innings on a wild pitch and a run-scoring fielder's choice. The Nighthawks got a run back in the third on a RBI double by Anna Williams and the game remained there until the seventh.

Central scored on a ground out a double and an infield single to make it 5-1. Williams singled in a run in the bottom half, but the Nighthawks couldn't rally against the No. 1 seed Wildcats.

"We hit balls hard everywhere and got no love for it at all," Wagner said. "We had runners at second or third three or four different times and then lined out."

Rae Young was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a double, and Abigail Otto was 2-for-3.

For the 10 seniors who wrapped up their careers Friday, it was a tremendous run.

"These four years have meant the most to me and have been the place I have found my best friends," NNU senior Shelbie Martinez said. "It's bittersweet. It hasn't hit me yet that I will never step foot on a softball field again, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity."

They helped the Nighthawks reach the postseason for the first time, advancing to back-to-back GNAC tournaments and making the NCAA West Regional in 2018.

They had winning records for the first two times, finishing 31-23 in 2018 and 28-24 in 2019.

And nearly every program record was set by this group.

"The 10 seniors are going to go down as the best group of players to play together over the course of two to four years," Wagner said. "Their character and hard work left a legacy. It really did. It is pretty tough to put into words.

"It is crazy how good this class was and it will be really difficult to match up against as far as career numbers and what they did for NNU softball."

It was the final game for Orr, Martinez, Cassidy Fifield, Anna Olson, Abigail Otto, Lauren Bassett, Rylee Thomas, Anna Williams, Madalyn Smith and Lyndzie Parker.

"It's definitely hard," Orr said. "It's something that has been a big part of your life and it's over, but I'm just grateful more than anything that I had this opportunity and to meet who I did and build what we did here at NNU.

"Even though I'm sad, I'm really grateful for my time here."

Central Washington will play Concordia at 1 p.m. MDT on Saturday in the championship game.