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Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

3
Winner Northwest Nazarene NORTHWES 1-0
1
Cal Poly Humboldt CAL POLY 0-1
Winner
Northwest Nazarene NORTHWES
1-0
3
Final
1
Cal Poly Humboldt CAL POLY
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Northwest Nazarene NORTHWES 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 7 1
Cal Poly Humboldt CAL POLY 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1

W: Lusk, Miah (1-0) L: L. Fournier (0-1)

4
Winner Vanguard VU 1-1
1
Northwest Nazarene NNU 1-1
Winner
Vanguard VU
1-1
4
Final
1
Northwest Nazarene NNU
1-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Vanguard VU 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 5 2
Northwest Nazarene NNU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 2

W: V. Robles (1-0) L: McGee, Riley (0-1)

SB-1-30

Game Recap: Softball | | Anna Carter

Nighthawks Open 2026 Season with Split in California

IRVINE, California – The Northwest Nazarene Softball team opened its 2026 season with a pair of games in California against Cal Poly Humboldt and Vanguard. The Nighthawks struck early in the opener and held on for a 3–1 victory over Humboldt. In the second game of the day, NNU battled but ultimately fell 4–1 to Vanguard.

The split moves the Nighthawks to 1–1 overall to begin the 2026 season.

Game One

The Nighthawks wasted no time bringing energy as the first inning got underway. Ava Clark reached base on a walk to open the game and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. After two Nighthawks struck out, Emma Bumatay stepped to the plate and delivered a single to center field, bringing Clark home to put NNU on the board first, 1–0.

In the bottom of the inning, Miah Lusk took the circle for the Nighthawks and set the tone defensively, retiring the side with no runs, no hits, and no errors.

NNU added to its lead in the second inning. Jami Obringer sparked the offense with a single to reach first base, and a few batters later Annie Swanson singled to center field to move Obringer to third. Clark followed with a hit to left field to drive Obringer home, giving the Nighthawks a 2–0 advantage heading back to the dugout.

The middle innings remained quiet as both teams settled in from the circle. Lusk was dominant for NNU, pitching five innings while striking out five batters, allowing no hits, one run, and one error.

Cal Poly Humboldt broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shelby Shanks reached on a fielder's choice, and Rylee Banks entered as a pinch runner. A walk moved Banks into scoring position, and she later crossed the plate on an RBI from Marissa Brody, cutting the deficit to 2–1 in favor of the Nighthawks.

The Nighthawks added one final run in the top of the seventh to secure the win. Lola Crosby reached base on a walk and stole second to move into scoring position. Keana Bell followed with a clutch single, allowing Crosby to cross the plate and seal the Nighthawks' 3–1 victory.

Game Two 

In the second game of the day for the Nighthawks, Vanguard struck first in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of hits and multiple NNU errors to push across three unearned runs and take an early 3–0 lead.

The Nighthawks looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning as Emma Bumatay worked a walk and Jami Obringer doubled down the right-field line to put runners in scoring position, but NNU was unable to bring them home.

After a quiet stretch of innings, Northwest Nazarene broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Riglee Peterson reached on an error, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Annie Swanson, and came around to score on an RBI single from Ava Clark, cutting the deficit to 3–1.

Vanguard added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4–1. The Nighthawks made one last push in the bottom of the inning as Clark doubled to left-center field, but the rally fell short as Vanguard held on for the 4–1 win.

Up Next

The Nighthawks will compete in their second day of play in California Saturday the 31st as they go up against Menlo College at 8 am Pacific time and Jessup at 1 pm Pacific time.
 
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