NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene softball bounced back from a 5-2 loss in game three of the series on Saturday to defeat Western Washington 9-1 in game four and take the four-game set 3-1.
The Nighthawks improve to 22-14 on the season and 10-2 in GNAC play, sitting atop the conference standings with three weekends left in the regular season.
Game 1
WWU took advantage of an NNU miscue in the top of the first, scoring two runs on a two-out double after a Nighthawks error on the previous play.
NNU's
Clarissa Moreno cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning, though, leading off with a solo homer off the scoreboard in left field. The Nighthawks would tie the game in the third when
Abigail Gagnon scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-2.
The Vikings emerged victorious, however, tallying a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to win 5-2.
Both teams had trouble hitting with runners in scoring position, each leaving 11 on base.
Sidney Booth went the full seven innings for NNU, allowing three earned runs while striking out three.
Game 2
After two scoreless frames, the Nighthawks struck first in game two with a
Maia McNicoll two-RBI double in the third that scored Moreno and
Tori Hensley. WWU then tied things up in the top of the fourth with an RBI single.
NNU came back with a big four-spot in the bottom of the frame, though, as
Jami Obringer drove home
Emma Bumatay and Moreno followed with her second homer of the day, this time a three-run shot to left that brought home Obringer and
Kellcie Adams.
The Nighthawks tacked on three more runs in the sixth to walk-off with the 9-1, run-rule victory as McNicoll drove in two runs with a single and
Kaylee Duncan drew a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
Moreno was 1-1 with the three-run jack, adding three walks as she reached base all four times she stepped to the plate. McNicoll added four RBIs on two hits, while Adams also notched two hits.
Hensley started in the circle and went five innings, allowing just the one run on five hits while striking out three.
Gina Skinner entered in the sixth and worked a scoreless frame, including turning a fantastic double play on a line-drive comebacker that she snared out of the air and fired to first base.
Next Up
NNU will hit the road next week, visiting Central Washington in Ellensburg for four games on Friday and Saturday. After that, it's the final homestand for the Nighthawks as they host Saint Martin's on April 21 and 22.
