NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene softball swept their home-opening doubleheader on Saturday, defeating Central Washington 1-0 and 6-3.
After their two-week hiatus from game action, the Nighthawks move to 5-8 on the season with the two non-conference victories against a GNAC opponent.
Game 1
NNU starter
Sidney Booth was dominant in the opener, only giving up two hits and not allowing a CWU baserunner to reach second base until the fifth inning.
The Nighthawks had a couple of chances to score early and finally punched through in the bottom of the fourth.
Charlotte Forniss got on with a one-out single and was pinch-ran for by
Siolo Church, who came around to score on an error after a
Kellcie Adams two-out single.
In the top of the sixth, Booth allowed her second hit with one out and was replaced by
Tori Hensley. Hensley proceeded to retire five of the final six Wildcats to earn the save and complete the combined shutout.
Booth tallied seven strikeouts and a walk along with the two hits, while Hensley gave up just one hit and joined Forniss and Adams to record NNU's three hits on the offensive end.
Game 2
The Nighthawks struck first in game two as
Madison Felter drove home
Maia McNicoll from third with a sacrifice fly. Central's offense would come alive for the only time during the day in the top of the third, though, tallying three runs on three hits.
CWU held that 3-1 lead until the bottom of the fifth, when NNU rallied for three runs with two outs. Hensley started the scoring with an RBI single to score
Jami Obringer, and after a pair of walks to load the bases,
Abigail Gagnon knocked a two-RBI single to left to put NNU up 4-3.
The Nighthawks tacked on two more runs in the sixth as
Clarissa Moreno and
Sidney Booth picked up RBIs to extend the lead to 6-3.
Hensley, who started in the circle for NNU, then finished off the complete game effort in the top of the seventh. She recorded three strikeouts in the win, allowing three runs on six hits.
Six different Nighthawks tallied hits in the game, including a pair of doubles from Moreno and
Madison Felter. NNU also recorded five walks.
Next Up
NNU and CWU will play two more on Monday, with first pitch of game one of the doubleheader set for 11:30 a.m. on Halle Field.
