NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene softball earned a huge 9-7 comeback victory over Saint Martin's in game two to grab a split with the Saints on Friday after falling 10-7 in game one.
The Nighthawks move to 15-12 overall and 5-5 in GNAC play.
Game 1: SMU 10, NNU 7
After the teams put up zeros in the first two innings, Saint Martin's scored seven runs in the third and fourth frames.
NNU started a comeback attempt in the fifth, as
Ava Clark delivered an RBI single,
Clarissa Moreno a sacrifice fly, and
Emma Mulligan scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 7-3. The Saints would erase those three runs with three of their own in the top of the sixth, however.
The Nighthawks put up another fight in the bottom of the seventh. Clark drove in a run with an RBI double and
Emma Bumatay followed with a two-RBI double.
Keana Bell then added another RBI double to cut the deficit to 10-7, but that was where the rally ended as the Saints held on for the win.
Mia Traylor pitched well in relief for NNU, getting the final five outs without allowing a run.
Miah Lusk started in the circle and
Victoria Frias also saw action in the game.
Game 2: NNU 9, SMU 7
SMU jumped on NNU starter
Riley McGee early in game two, scoring three runs in both the first and second innings to go up 6-0.
NNU started their comeback right away this time though, starting with two runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Bell and RBI double from
Kellcie Adams.
One inning later, Moreno made it 6-3 with an RBI single and a few batters later, Bell came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. The sophomore came up clutch, blasting a grand slam over the wall in left-center to give NNU a 7-6 lead.
NNU added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth, as Bumatay drilled a solo homer to center field and
Jami Obringer scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-6. The Saints got one back in the sixth, but the Nighthawks held on for the 9-7 win.
Traylor had another great relief appearance, earning the win after going 3.2 innings and allowing just one run on four hits.
Charlotte Forniss got a five out save, pitching the final 1.2 frames without allowing a hit.
Bell was 2-4 with five RBIs in the game, while Moreno and Bumatay each added two hits.
Next Up
The Nighthawks and Saints will close out their series with two more games tomorrow starting at noon.
