MONMOUTH, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene softball bounced back in a big way on Friday at Western Oregon, snapping a five-game skid with a doubleheader sweep of the Wolves by scores of 8-4 and 5-3.
The Nighthawks improve to 20-20 overall on the year and 8-10 in GNAC play.
Game One: NNU 8, WOU 4
Western Oregon was able to push a run across in the first inning, but NNU responded with three in the second to take the lead.
Emma Bumatay had an RBI double and
Olivia Bailey followed with a two-run single to make it 3-1.
The lead swung back in the Wolves' favor, though, as the home team scored one in the third and two in the fourth to take a 4-3 advantage.
Clarissa Moreno came up clutch for NNU to tie the game at four with an RBI single in the fifth.
With one out in the seventh,
Charlotte Forniss then provided the heroics for the Nighthawks as she blasted a grand slam to give NNU an 8-4 lead.
Victoria Frias, who had entered in relief in the fourth inning, then set down the Wolves in order in the bottom of the inning to end it.
Frias tossed 3.2 total innings, not allowing a hit and striking out two to earn the win.
Miah Lusk started for the Nighthawks and allowed four runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings.
In addition to her grand slam, Forniss was also 3-3 in the game and walked in her other plate appearance.
Game Two: NNU 5, WOU 3
NNU struck first in the nightcap, with
Emma Mulligan doubling home a run in the third to put the Nighthawks up 1-0. Another run came across in the fifth on a Moreno RBI groundout, and NNU then added three more in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Mulligan and a two-run single from
Ava Clark.
WOU put up a fight on their home field, clawing back for three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it would not be enough as NNU held on for the 5-3 win.
After her stellar offensive display, Forniss took the circle in game two and went 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out two and earning the win. Frias then pitched 1.2 frames and allowed three runs, before
Mia Traylor came in to get the final two outs for the save.
Mulligan was 3-4 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored in the nightcap.
Up Next
The Nighthawks and Wolves close out their series tomorrow with another doubleheader, with first pitch of game three set for noon Pacific in Monmouth.
