NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks earned a series split with Simon Fraser (B.C.) with a five-run third inning in game two at Halle Field.
Game One: NNU 0, SFU 4
Game one of the double-header say Simon Fraser come out on top as the NNU offense struggle to find success against Monica Bourque. The Red Leafs struck early in the second inning. Cassidy Affeldt took first after getting hit by a pitch. Ella Booth stepped up and doubled to left center which scored Affeldt from first to take a 1-0 lead.Â
NNU was able to record a hit in the third as
Ava Clark singled up the middle, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A strike out and fly out would strand the tying run at third. SFU piled on in the 4th with three runs as Hannah Houts and Affeldt earned walks and advanced to second and third on a passed ball after Houts was pinch ran for byÂ
Haley Payne. Ella Booth knocked in Payne on a base hit to right center. Abby Burgess came into run for Booth and immediately stole second which allowed Affeldt to score on the delayed steal from third. Burgess took third on a fly ball and then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 4-0.
Monica Bourque (W, 6-11) pitched 7.0 scoreless innings while only giving up four hits and stuck out five Nighthawks.Â
NNU saw two pitchers get work as
Miah Lusk (L, 11-4) pitched 3.1 innings giving up two hits, four runs, and struck out four batters.
Victoria Frias saw relief work and pitched 3.2 innings and only gave up one run in the loss.Â
Game Two: NNU 8, SFU 4
The Red Leafs seemed to pick up right where they left off as Lugtigheld led off the game with a single and stole second. She would then advance to third after M Millan had a hard hit ball back to pitcher that allowed her to reach safely. A Makena Simmons successful sacrifice bunt scored Lugtigheid and advanced McMillan to second. A Hannah Houts single capped off a two-run inning as McMillan scored.Â
Both teams were put down in order until the top of the third when Lugtigheid singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a wild pitch but was stranded on a fly out.Â
NNU saw the tide turn in the third inning as
Lola Crosby and
Riglee Peterson earned back-to-back walks.
Annie Swanson reached first on a throwing error that allowed
Lola Crosby to score. An
Ava Clark sacrifice fly allowed Peterson to score. The Nighthawks took the lead when
Jami Obringer hit an RBI single to score Swanson. Two more runs came in after
Emma Bumatay was hit by a pitch and
Paisley Noyer doubled to score Obringer and Bumatay.
Simon Fraser added two in the next inning on a Ella Booth homer to left that scored Affeldt as well. With the score being 5-4 in the fourth, NNU added three more in the bottom half.
Riglee Peterson legged out an infield single and took second on a wild pitch.
Annie Swanson worked a full-count walk and a double steal put both Swanswon and Peterson in scoring position.
Ava Clark secured two RBIs on a single and advanced to second on the throw home as the Nighthawks led 7-4.
Ava Clark tagged up and took third on a fly ball to deep right.
Keana Bell added to solid weekend with an RBI double to score Clark and secure an 8-4 win.Â
Riley McGee pitched 3.0 Innings and gav eup five hits and four runs.
Victoria Frias (W, 1-0) pitched 4.0 innings and only gave up one hit.
Keana Bell and
Paisley Noyer each had a double.
NNU is now 22-13 overall and 3-5 in GNAC play. They Nighthawks will travel to Bellingham, Washington to face Western Washington for four-games on April 3rd.Â
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