LACEY, Wash. - The NNU Softball team split a double-header with Saint Martin's to open their conference slate in Lacey, Washington this afternoon.
Game One - NNU 8, SMU 2
The Nighthawks started hot as
Ava Clark worked a leadoff walk,
Jami Obringer singled down the left field line, and
Hailey Harris was hit by a pitch to load the bases before an out was recorded.
Emma Bumatay stepped up and grounded out but still recorded an RBI as
Ava Clark scored from third. Two more runs were driven in by
Keana Bell and
Hailey Harris and
Jami Obringer scored. After
Lola Crosby reached on a fielder's choice,
Lauryn Bergevin singled to center field and they both advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.
Riglee Peterson knocked in two more with a single to cap off a five run inning for the Nighthawks.
Miah Lusk worked around a walk and a hit batter in the bottom half of the first to keep the Saints scoreless. The next two innings wouldn't see any runs and only two hits from the Nighthawks.
Saint Martin's would enter the score column in the bottom of the third as Haley Agena worked a leadoff walk and Shelby Lawson was hit by a pitch. Heather Ebner doubled down the left field line, driving in two runs and cutting into the Nighthawks lead. NNU added insurance runs in the sixth as
Paisley Noyer drove in
Gabi Ramirez. Some heads-up base running from
Riglee Peterson added another for the Nighthawks on a delayed steal from home after
Annie Swanson stole second.
Emma Bumatay capped off a solid offensive outing with a homer to left center field in the seventh and the Nighthawks took the first game of the series, 8-2.
Miah Lusk went the distance with 7.0 innings pitched while giving up two hits, two runs, and totaled seven strikeouts. NNU tallied 11 hits capped by
Emma Bumatay's solo homer, the only extra base hit for the Nighthawks.
Game Two - NNU 1, SMU 5
NNU struggled to string together hits in the second game of the double header. The Nighthawks gave up two runs in the bottom of the first and were held hitless until the top of the fourth.
Ava Clark led off the inning with a single and then stole second. The NNU offense started to gain momentum as
Jami Obringer worked a full-count walk but three straight popups would leave Clark and Obringer stranded at first and second.
The Saints put together a big fifth inning that saw three runs on three hits putting the score at 5-0. The Nighthawks would plate one run in hopes of sparking a comeback off the bat of Obringer, driving in
Molly Buckingham but would be unable to score anymore.
Riley McGee would pitch 4.2 innings while giving up seven hits, five runs, and one strikeout. Her record will fall to 5-3.
Lynsey Chiala would come in, in relief and pitched 1.1 innings and didn't give up any runs on one hit. NNU had five hits, led by
Ava Clark with two.
NNU's record falls to 20-9 overall and 1-1 in GNAC play. They will face Saint Martin's again on Monday in a double-header. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT.
