IRVINE, Calif. – Northwest Nazarene softball dropped a tough sweep at the hands of Colorado Christian University on Thursday, falling 6-3 in game one and 2-1 in eight innings in game two.
The Nighthawks move to 3-8 on the season after completing their 11-game season-opening California trip.
Game 1
Colorado Christian struck first in the top of the first inning, picking up a two-out, two-RBI single to take a 2-0 lead. The Cougars added another run in the top of the fourth on a solo homer to left.
NNU responded in the bottom of the fourth, though, as
Tori Hensley led off the inning with a single,
Sidney Booth walked, and
Maia McNicoll stepped up and launched a three-run blast to left. The homer was McNicoll's third in the last two games, tying the score at 3-3.
CCU would get to NNU starter
Sidney Booth in the top of the seventh, though, for three runs on three hits and an error. NNU got a runner on in the bottom of the inning, but the Cougars held and took the 6-3 win.
Booth went 6.2 innings with six runs allowed and four strikeouts.
Gina Skinner entered in relief in the seventh to get the final out.
Game 2
The Nighthawks jumped out to an early lead in game two with a two-out rally in the top of the first. Booth was hit by a pitch and McNicoll singled to set the table for
Charlotte Forniss, who drove home Booth with a double.
NNU starter
Tori Hensley kept the Cougars off the scoreboard all the way into the sixth inning, but CCU tied the game up at one on a Nighthawks' error.
The game would go to extras, where another NNU error brought home the winning, walk-off run.
Hensley went 5.1 innings, striking out three and allowing five hits.
Next Up
NNU will head back to Nampa after two weeks on the road and enjoy a 15-day break before their next game. The next contest is also on the road, visiting Western Washington for a non-conference, four-game series from Feb. 24-25.
