NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene softball dropped game one 4-3 to Central Washington but bounced back to win game two 3-1.
The Nighthawks are now 24-7 overall and 7-3 in the GNAC.
Game 1
Wildcats' cleanup hitter, Alyssa Benthagen, opened the scoring for the weekend with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. CWU added two more runs to the board in the fifth inning with three hits to take a 4-0 lead.
The Nighthawks got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when
Emma Bumatay scored
Ava Clark on an RBI single up the middle.
Clarissa Moreno scored when the next batter,
Abigail Gagnon, hit a single up the middle as well.
Keana Bell walked to lead off the seventh inning and advanced to second with a ground out.
Ava Clark brought Bell in to score with a base hit to left center. Nighthawks threatened with bases loaded and one out, but the Wildcats were able to hold on to their 4-3 to the conclusion of the game.
Sidney Booth started in for the Nighthawks and pitched all 7.0 innings. She struck out 10 batters to reach 100 strikeouts on the season.
Ava Clark had her fourth multi-hit game of the year.
Game 2
The Wildcats scored first again in game two with an RBI single in the top of the third inning. This time, the Nighthawks answered right back with a solo home run by
Emma Mulligan to even the game at one a piece.
Booth reached base on a fielder's choice that scored Mulligan, giving NNU their first lead of the day at 2-1. Two batters later,
Emma Bumatay got her second RBI of the day when she hit a single to score
Clarissa Moreno.
Gina Skinner started in the circle for the Nighthawks and pitched all 7.0 innings. She struck out four batters and allowed just the one run. Her ERA for the year is now 1.38. Mulligan's home run was her second of the season. She extended her hitting streak to six games and earned her sixth multi-hit game of the season.
On Deck
The Nighthawks continue their series against Central Washington with two games tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
