NAMPA, Idaho - Northwest Nazarene softball continued their dominant start to the 2021 season on Saturday, taking two more from Montana State Billings by scores of 16-8 and 8-1.
With the wins, the Nighthawks sweep the four-game series against the Yellowjackets and move to 10-2 on the season.
NNU will continue their long homestand to start the year next weekend, hosting Saint Martin's for four games to open conference play.
Game One: NNU 16, MSUB 8 (6 inn.)
MSUB struck first in game one with two runs in the opening inning, but NNU responded quickly with a seven-spot in the bottom of the second. NNU's first runs came in thrilling fashion, as
Abigail Gagnon launched a grand slam to put the Nighthawks in front with one swing. Before the inning was over,
Ivy Hommel drove in two runs with a triple and
Brittany Genuardi brought her home with an RBI groundout.
NNU tallied six more runs in the third, highlighted by a
Sidney Booth two-RBI triple, taking a 13-2 lead through three. MSUB responded in the fourth with six runs to cut the lead to five, but NNU added a run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to earn the win via the eight-run rule.
Gagnon finished 3-3 with five RBI, while
Madison Strickler also picked up three hits. Booth was also 2-4 with three RBI and Hommel finished 2-3 with a pair of RBI.
Game Two: NNU 8, MSUB 1
Sidney Booth did it again on Saturday, improving to 5-0 on the year with another dominant pitching performance. She tossed a complete game five-hitter, allowing just the one run and striking out 10.
Emilie Hernandez led the offense in game two, finishing with three RBI that all came on a bases-clearing double in the first inning. NNU added three more in the second on two bases-loaded walks and an RBI groundout to take a 6-0 lead. Two more runs would come across in the third on an error and a Hommel sacrifice fly, and that would prove to be more than enough for the Nighthawks to earn the win and complete the sweep.
