ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Northwest Nazarene softball overpowered the Wildcats to win 6-0 and 5-1 on their first day in Ellensburg.
The Nighthawks move to 8-1 on the season.
Game 1
The Nighthawks had two hits in the first inning but didn't open the scoring for the game until the top of the third inning.
Clarissa Moreno hit a line drive home run that went over the left field wall. Two batters later,
Abigail Gagnon hit a home run down the left field line to give NNU a 2-0 lead.
The Nighthawks big inning came in the sixth when they scored four runs on four consecutive plate appearances.
Keana Bell scored when
Ava Clark reached on a fielder's choice.
Emma Mulligan doubled down the right field line to score
Jami Obringer. Moreno followed with an RBI single to score Clark. Finally, Mulligan came around to score when
Sidney Booth reached on a fielder's choice.
Abigail Gagnon went 4-4 at the plate.
Clarissa Moreno went 2-4 with two RBIs.
Emma Mulligan also went 2-4.
Sidney Booth pitched seven scoreless innings while striking out eight batters. She was able to escape a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning.
Game 2
NNU wasted no time getting on the board in game two.
Clarissa Moreno reached base after getting hit by a pitch,
Sidney Booth walked, then
Abigail Gagnon hit her second home run of the day to give the Nighthawks an early 3-0 lead.
Central Washington tallied their first and only run of the day in the fourth inning when they were able to string together a couple of hits.
NNU added two runs of insurance in the top of the seventh.
Emilie Hernandez pinch hit and led off the inning with a base hit on a change-up that she stayed on well.
Ava Clark reentered to run for Hernandez.
Emma Mulligan was smooth all day at second base and got a chance to show off her speed when she bunted for a base hit. Clark and Mulligan moved to second and third on a wild pitch before Clark scored on an RBI by
Clarissa Moreno. Mulligan scored one batter later when
Sidney Booth hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Charlotte Forniss pitched 4.2 innings, allowed just one run, and struck out two batters.
Gina Skinner entered the game in the fifth inning with two outs and threw one pitch to get out of the inning. Skinner pitched the final 2.1 innings of the game without allowing a run or a hit to earn the save.
On Deck
The Nighthawks have another doubleheader against Central Washington tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for noon Pacific Time.
