NAMPA, Idaho - Northwest Nazarene softball continued their hot start to the 2021 season on Friday, taking both games of the doubleheader over Montana State Billings by scores of 9-0 and 8-1. 

With the wins, NNU improves to 8-2 on the year. While MSUB is normally a conference opponent, the weekend's games are set as non-conference affairs between the GNAC schools.

The Nighthawks and Yellowjackets will close out the four-game set with two more contests tomorrow. First pitch of game three of the series is at noon.

Game 1: NNU 9, MSUB 0 (5 inn.)

NNU scored in every inning they came to the plate in game one, highlighted by a five-run third inning. Brittany Genuardi started the scoring with a two-run homer to left in the first inning before Abigail Gagnon knocked an RBI double to right in the second. 

The third inning started with another Genuardi bomb, followed by an RBI single for Madison Strickler and a pair of run-scoring doubles for Emilie Hernandez and Emma Mulligan.

Maia McNicoll closed out the scoring for NNU with a solo shot in the fourth inning.

Sidney Booth improved to 4-0 on the year with yet another wonderful outing, going five innings and allowing just three hits and no runs with seven strikeouts. Genuardi finished 3-3 with two runs scored and three RBI, while McNicoll also had two hits and an RBI. 

Game 2: NNU 8, MSUB 1

Tori Hensley picked up the win in game two, hurling a complete game with just five hits and one run allowed.

NNU got on the board first with a bases-loaded walk to McNicoll in the third inning. MSUB tied it up in the top of the fourth, but the Nighthawks responded with a six-run bottom of the inning to blow the game wide open. Mulligan got things going with a two-RBI double to left before Genuardi drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Ivy Hommel would also score on a wild pitch, before Booth launched a two-run bomb to center to make it 7-1.

Hommel would add another run on a home run in the bottom of the fifth. She finished a perfect 4-4 in game two, while Booth and Nicole Zuvela also had multi-hit performances.