BILLINGS, Mont. - The Northwest Nazarene softball team put up 22 runs in game two of the doubleheader, the most since 2023 (24 vs Simon Fraser, 3/24/2023).

Game 1: NNU 7, MSUB 9

The Nighthawks took a quick lead in the first inning as Jami Obringer worked a four-pitch walk and stole second. Keana Bell knocked in Obringer from second on a double to left center. Ashley Espino then drove in Bell on a single down the left field line to give the road team a 2-0 lead. MSUB answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first but NNU still held on to a one-run lead.

The Nighthawks added two more runs in the top of the third as Emma Bumatay hit her fourth home run of the weekend, scoring Obringer. NNU now led 4-1 but the Yellowjackets added one of their own in the bottom half of the inning. 

With a 4-2 lead, NNU added two more runs after Ava Clark worked a walk and Jami Obringer hit her first homer of the weekend to drive in Clark. MSUB kept it close with another run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 6-3.

The Yellowjackets scored three big runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie it at six off of five hits. The hosts then took the lead in the sixth inning as Klemp homered to center to put them up 7-6. 

Keana Bell started the seventh frame with a single and was pinch ran for by Gabi Ramirez. After Ramirez stole second and Espino popped out to second, Lauryn Bergevin hit a go-ahead single to score Ramirez from second. MSUB entered with their backs against the wall. Trailing by one, Miah Lusk struck out the first two batters and was an out away from a win. The Yellowjackets were able to get the tying run aboard and a walk-off, two-run homer off the bat of Hurst would flip the script and give MSUB their seventh win of the season.

Miah Lusk (L, 13-7) pitched 4.1 innings giving up five runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Victoria Frias pitched 1.1 innings giving up three runs on six hits and Lynsey Chiala pitched 1.0 inning, giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout. Jami Obringer, Emma Bumatay, Keana Bell, and Ashley Espino each had two hits while Lauryn Bergevin and Lola Crosby each had one hit. Both Jami Obringer and Emma Bumatay homered in the loss.

Game 2: NNU 22, MSUB 7

The bats were hot for game two as they recorded 22 hits for 22 runs. 22 runs is the most by any GNAC team this season and 22 hits is tied for first with Western Oregon.

Despite the lopsided score, the first run wasn't scored until the third inning. MSUB opened the scoring on a single and an error but NNU responded with eight runs in the fourth. Keana Bell led off the inning with her first homer of the game. Lola Crosby then singled with two outs before Riglee Peterson reached on an error to score Crosby. Annie Swanson then reached on an error to put runners on first and second before Ava Clark homered for the fourth time this season. Jami Obringer followed the homer with a walk. In typical Obringer fashion, she stole second and took third on a throwing error. That extra 60-feet proved to not matter as Emma Bumatay smashed a homer to drive in Obringer and go up 7-1. NNU batted around and Keana Bell stepped up and homered again in the same inning, going back-to-back with Bumatay's homer to cap off an eight-run inning.

Two more NNU runs would score as Jami Obringer homered for the second time today and Keana Bell took one deep for the third time this game. NNU now led 10-1 before the Yellowjackets plated three runs. 

The Nighthawks topped their eight-run inning with a 12-run inning in the seventh. Olivia Bailey drove in Lola Crosby on a sac fly to make the score 11-4. With Riglee Peterson at third, Ava Clark doubled to left to score Peterson. Jami Obringer stepped up with a runner in scoring position but launched her second homer of the game, third of the weekend. Emma Bumatay kept up her strong weekend with a single and was pinch run for by Ramirez. Keana Bell walked and both Bell and Ramirez advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch would score Ramirez and move Bell to third. Kaylee Duncan singled on a 3-0 pitch to drive in Bell. Another wild pitch moved two runners into scoring position. Braezen Henderson singled to score Bergevin. After a stolen base from Henderson and a Bailey walk, Audrey McKibben pinch hit for Obringer. McKibben reached on an error from the second baseman to score both Henderson and Madyson Hererra. Kiki Bangham entered her third game of the season and singled to right field to drive in Bailey and McKibben to record the 21st and 22nd run for NNU.

MSUB would rally for three runs in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to overcome the deficit. 

Riley McGee (W, 8-5) pitched 6.0 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Miah Lusk pitched 1.0 inning and gave up three runs on three hits with one strikeout. Ava Clark, Jami Obringer, Emma Buamtay, and Keana Bell each homered. Bell's three home runs tie the most of any GNAC player this season (Hailey Rath vs Western Washington, 3/6/2026). NNU's seven home runs are the most in the GNAC this season.

The Nighthawks are now 26-17 overall and 7-9 in GNAC play. They will be at home for the rest of the regular season as they host Western Oregon in a big four-game series that could have postseason implications on April 24th and 25th.  Read Full Article