BELLINGHAM, Wash. - On the heels of claiming their fourth-straight GNAC Regular Season Championship, Northwest Nazarene softball looks to win their third-straight conference tournament when they take on the field at the 2024 GNAC Championships in Bellingham this weekend.

Action kicks off on Thursday with a noon (Pacific) first pitch between No. 2 seed Western Washington and No. 3 seed Saint Martin's, with No. 1 seed Northwest Nazarene taking on No. 4 seed Central Washington at 2:30 p.m. The double-elimination format tournament will feature three games on Friday starting at 10 a.m. (Pacific), followed by the championship game on Saturday starting at noon (Pacific).
 
Tickets are available for online purchase at this link. All tickets must be purchased via the link, as cash will not be accepted on site. All games at the championship will be streamed live on the GNAC YouTube channel online here, and live statistics for all games will be available online here.
 
GNAC Softball Championships Schedule
Thursday, May 2
Game 1 – No. 2 Seed Western Washington vs. No. 3 Seed Saint Martin's – Noon
Game 2 – No. 1 Seed Northwest Nazarene vs. No. 4 Seed Central Washington – 2:30 p.m.
 
Friday, May 3
Game 3 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 – 10 a.m.
Game 4 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 – 12:30 p.m.
Game 5 – Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3 – 3 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 4
Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – Noon
Game 7 – Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary) – 2:30 p.m.
 
No. 1 Seed Northwest Nazarene University Nighthawks
2024 Record: 37-8, 20-4 GNAC (1st place)
Home: 15-2 Away: 18-4 Neutral: 4-2 Streak: Won 4
2024 vs. CWU: 7-1 2024 vs. SMU: 5-2 2024 vs. WWU: 2-2
Tournament Appearances: 6 (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) Tournament Titles: 3 (2018, 2022, 2023)

Team Notes

• The Nighthawks are the third softball program to win at least four regular season titles in a row in GNAC history, joining Cal Poly Humboldt (five in a row from 2002-06) and Central Washington (four from 2016-19).
• NNU joins CPH as the only one to win four-straight outright titles, however, as CWU's 2018 regular season championship was shared with NNU. NNU's five titles are also tied for the GNAC record with those same two programs.
• In those past four years, the Nighthawks have won at least 30 games each season and compiled a total record of 142-60 overall and 70-18 in conference play.
• NNU has been sensational all season, appearing in the NFCA national poll all year and rising as high as 13th this week, which is the highest ranking in program history. NNU's 37 wins are just two shy of the program record of 39 set last season when the Nighthawks were one win away from reaching the Super-Regionals of the NCAA tournament.
• NNU is currently second in the latest NCAA Regional Rankings. The top two teams in the final rankings announced during the selection show on Monday, May 6 will earn the opportunity to serve as the host schools for the opening rounds of NCAA Regionals on May 9-11. Eight total teams will be selected from each region, with four going to each regional host during the first weekend of tournament play (4-seed, 5-seed, and 8-seed travel to 1-seed, while 3-seed, 6-seed, and 7-seed travel to 2-seed).
• This season, the Nighthawks are sixth in the nation with a team ERA of 1.55, eighth with a WHIP of 1.03, 16th with 14 shutouts, and 33rd with a 2.90 strikeout to walk ratio

Player Notes

• After earning GNAC Pitcher of the Year in 2021 and 2022, Sidney Booth is once again on top as the GNAC's best pitcher in 2024. She currently has a 1.32 earned run average with 162 strikeouts, and a record of 22-4. Booth was one of two Nighthawks to be unanimously chosen for the First Team All-GNAC honor. Booth is also hitting .293 at the plate with four homers, 31 RBIs, and a team-leading 20 walks.
• Gina Skinner was the other Nighthawk to be unanimously chosen as a First Team All-Conference player. After pitching a total of 90.2 innings with three starts in her first three seasons at NNU, Skinner has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the GNAC. She has a 1.42 earned run average in 103.2 innings of work with 20 appearances, 13 starts, and a record of 13-2.
• Emma Mulligan was named First Team All-Conference for the first time in her career. The second baseman has returned to the diamond this year after taking a redshirt last season due to injury and stolen 18 bags for the Nighthawks. She has hit in the lead off position every game and currently has a batting average of .320 with five home runs. In addition to offense, Mulligan has been a sound defensive player this season with a fielding percentage of .971 in 209 chances.
•  Abigail Gagnon earned Second Team All-Conference for the third time in her career. Gagnon was a Second Team-All Conference selection in 2023 and 2022, as well as an All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2021. Gagnon is currently the team leader in batting average at .346 and has fought through much adversity this season to be named one of the GNACs top performers.
• Clarissa Moreno earned Second Team All-Conference for the second time in her two seasons at NNU. The shortstop has played a strong role both offensively and defensively. Offensively she has a batting average of .341 with 11 doubles and four home runs. Defensively, she has a fielding percentage of .957 in 164 chances.
• Emma Bumatay earned Second Team All-Conference for the first time in her career. The sophomore has taken on a major role as the team's everyday first baseman, starting all 45 games so far this season. She leads the Nighthawks in home runs with seven and runs batted in with 33. Though she may be one of the biggest power threats in NNU's line up, Bumatay has also proven her ability to make consistent contact with a batting average of .294 so far this season.
• Jami Obringer, Ava Clark, and Keana Bell round out the outfield for the Nighthawks, all contributing at least 16 runs scored and 13 RBIs this season.