BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Northwest Nazarene's Tori Hensley was dominant at the plate and in the circle Friday as the Nighthawks split their GNAC opening doubleheader at Western Washington.

The Nighthawks won the nightcap 9-7 after dropping the opener 4-0.

In the nightcap, Hensley was 4-for-4 at the plate and allowed four runs – two earned – in five innings to earn her third victory of the season.

"It was great to get back out and compete after a long break," NNU coach Rich Wagner said after his team had the last two weekends off. "Our pitchers did a great job keeping us in the games and allowing our hitters a chance to get in rhythm. All 22 players are ready to get back at it tomorrow."

The Nighthawks (8-6 overall, 1-1 GNAC) scored five times in the second inning, thanks to a two-run single by Madison Strickler, an RBI walk by Emma Mulligan and a two-run double by Ivy Hommel.

After the Vikings (7-11, 2-4) cut the lead to 5-3, Hommel had a run-scoring single and Sidney Booth blasted a two-run homer. Strickler added an RBI single in the fifth.

In the opener, Rae Young took the loss allowing four runs in four innings. Booth came on in relief and struck out four in two perfect innings.

NNU was held to just three hits in the loss as Hensley was 2-for-3 and Abigail Gagnon added a single.

The two teams are scheduled for another doubleheader at 1 p.m. MST on Saturday in Bellingham.