Northwest Nazarene softball earned a doubleheader sweep over Montana State Billings, taking Game 1, 11–3, before finishing the day with a 10–2 victory in Game 2.
Game 1: NNU 11, MSUB 3
Northwest Nazarene opened the doubleheader with an explosive first inning that set the tone for the rest of the game.
After MSUB put a runner on in the top of the first, Miah Lusk struck out three straight batters to end the threat. The Nighthawks then capitalized in the bottom half, scoring four runs. Ava Clark started the rally with a single and advanced to second on an error before Jami Obringer added another hit to put runners on the corners. Hailey Harris delivered an RBI single to plate Clark, and Keana Bell followed with a run-scoring double. Later in the inning, Riglee Peterson drove in two more runs with a single to give NNU a 4–0 lead.
MSUB slowly chipped away, scoring on a passed ball in the third before a solo home run by Klemp in the fourth made it 4–2. Another passed ball in the fifth cut the Nighthawks' lead to 4–3.
NNU responded in the bottom of the fifth with timely hitting. Lola Crosby delivered a two-run double to left field, and Paisley Noyer followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 7–3.
The Nighthawks broke the game open in the sixth inning with four more runs. RBI singles from Emma Bumatay, Bell, and Crosby highlighted the rally as NNU secured the 11–3 win.
NNU finished with 14 hits in the opener.
In the circle, Miah Lusk (9–3) earned the win, throwing 4.0 innings while allowing five hits and three runs (one earned) with eight strikeouts and one walk. Victoria Frias closed the game with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out one and walking one.
Game 2: NNU 10, MSUB 2
Montana State Billings struck first in the second game, taking a 1–0 lead in the opening inning after a leadoff double from Nieto set up an RBI single by Theilen.
Northwest Nazarene responded in the second inning. Bell singled and later scored when Crosby doubled to right center. Peterson followed with an RBI groundout to give the Nighthawks a 2–1 advantage.
The Nighthawks added two more runs in the third. Obringer singled and stole second before Harris drove her in with an RBI single up the middle. Another run came across when Crosby reached on an error, extending the lead to 4–1.
MSUB cut into the deficit in the fourth with a solo home run from Hood, but NNU quickly answered with its biggest offensive inning of the day.
In the bottom of the fourth, Peterson doubled down the line and Clark followed with an RBI single. Bumatay then launched a three-run home run to left center, and Bell added a solo homer in the next at-bat as the Nighthawks scored five runs in the inning to take a commanding 9–2 lead.
Northwest Nazarene added one more in the sixth when Bell doubled to center field to score a pinch runner, sealing the 10–2 win and completing the doubleheader sweep.
In the circle, Riley McGee (5–2) earned the win after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs while walking one. Lynsey Chiala finished the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two while walking one to close out the victory.
Up Next
The Nighthawks will hit the field tomorrow the 14th as they look to repeat their day one performance in the second day of the series against MSUB.
