NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene softball split the opening two games of the final regular season series on Friday, winning 10-5 in game one and falling 4-1 in game two.
The Nighthawks move to 23-21 overall on the year and are 11-11 in GNAC play with just two games remaining in the regular season.
With the final doubleheader set for tomorrow against MSUB, the Nighthawks need to win at least one game to finish ahead of the Yellowjackets and claim the fourth and final spot in the GNAC Championships. MSUB has to win both to overtake NNU for the final playoff berth.
Game One: NNU 10, MSUB 5
Neither team scratched across a run in the first two innings, before MSUB got on the board first with a three-run homer in the third. The Nighthawks got two back in the bottom of the inning as
Charlotte Forniss knocked a two-run double to left center.
The fourth inning would prove to be the difference in the game as NNU rallied for eight runs, all with two outs.
Emma Mulligan started the onslaught with a three-run homer and then
Ava Clark went back-to-back with a solo shot one batter later.
Clarissa Moreno scored a couple batters later on an error, and
Emma Bumatay followed that with NNU's third homer of the inning, a three-run shot that made it 10-3.
The Yellowjackets got two back in the top of the fifth, but that was as close as they would come as the Nighthawks took the five-run victory.
Miah Lusk started in the circle and went 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on one hit and six walks while striking out eight.
Victoria Frias tossed 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on just one hit.
Mulligan was 3-4 in the game with three RBIs, and scored a pair of runs to tie the GNAC career record for runs scored with 186 across her five seasons.
Bumatay also had two hits for the Nighthawks.
Game Two: MSUB 4, NNU 1
The Yellowjackets came out strong again to start game two, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. They added two more in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.
After being held off the board with just two hits through the first 6.1 innings, Bumatay ended the shutout with a solo homer to left field with one out in the seventh.
NNU was unable to start a rally, however, falling by the 4-1 score.
Charlotte Forniss started for NNU and went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Frias again came on in relief and allowed two runs (both unearned) on four hits.
Up Next
As mentioned, the Nighthawks and Yellowjackets will square off for two more crucial contests on Saturday, with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for noon at Halle Field.
