NAMPA, Idaho - The Nighthawks smashed three homers in game one as they earned a sweep in the first day of a four-game series against Western Oregon this afternoon.
Game One: NNU 10, WOU 2 (5 Innings)
It didn't take long for the Nighthawks to control the first game of the doubleheader. After they set down the Wolves in order to start the game,
Ava Clark led off the first with a walk.
Jami Obringer stepped up and launched her fourth home run in three games, scoring Clark, to give NNU an early 2-0 lead.
Emma Bumatay stayed hot with a single down the left field line and
Keana Bell hit her fourth home run in two games to double the lead to four.
With another 1-2-3 inning,
Ava Clark hit a low-driven ball the cleared the fence for NNU's third homer of the game. Heading into the bottom of the third with a 5-0 lead, NNU scored four more. With two outs and the bases loaded,
Jami Obringer knocked in Bergevin and Crosby on a single through the right side of the infield for her third and fourth RBIs of the contest.
Emma Bumatay stepped up with two on and singled to score Clark from third and advance Obringer to second.
Keana Bell had an opportunity with Obringer in scoring position and delivered with a single of her own through the left side, scoring Obringer.
Miah Lusk was dealing in the circle, having faced the minimum through three innings before WOU started to gain some momentum. A single to right and a single off of Lusk put two runners on without any outs. Lauren Mauer flew out to right, Hommel tagged and beat the throw to third but an error sent the ball back into right field, allowing Hommel to score. NNU still led 9-1 but had a runner at third to deal with. Reghann Fairbairn singled on a full-count to score the runner from third and make the score 9-2.
Lola Crosby led the inning off with a double down the right field line and then took third on a ground out.
Annie Swanson hit a two-out single to right that scored Crosby easily to take an eight run lead.
Western Oregon was now forced to score a run to avoid the eight-run rule but were unable to do so as NNU took game one.
Miah Lusk (W, 14-7) pitched 5.0 innings giving up three hits and two runs while striking out seven.
Ava Clark,
Jami Obringer, and
Keana Bell homered while
Lola Crosby had the lone extra base hit that wasn't a home run. As a team, NNU collected 13 hits and scored ten runs.
Game Two: NNU 4, WOU 1
Game two didn't see as much offense from either team. NNU was held hitless until the third inning where they scored all their runs.
Annie Swanson worked a four-pitch walk and promptly stole second.
Ava Clark then worked a full-count walk to put runners on first and second.
Jami Obringer wore a pitch off the leg to load the bases for
Emma Bumatay. Bumatay delivered with a bases-clearing double to left center that gave the Nighthawks a 3-0 lead.
Keana Bell legged out an infield bunt to put Bumatay at third and
Lola Crosby grounded out but earned an RBI as
Emma Bumatay crossed for the fourth run of the game.
Neither team made any noise until the top of the sixth inning. WOU was able to work the bases loaded on two walks and a hit. NNU made a pitching change and went to their ace when the pressure was highest.
Miah Lusk stepped into the circle and hit her first batter, scoring a run. Haley Ching stepped up with the bases loaded and the tying run standing at first. However, a base running error on a would-be passed ball saw Haley Ching come too far off of second, expecting Jocelyn Rush to break for the plate. A 2-1-4 put out ended the inning and stopped a promising chance for the Huskies.
Lusk delivered in the save situation, striking out the side and securing the day-one sweep for the Nighthawks.
Riley McGee (W, 9-5) pitched 4.0 innings only giving up seven hits and striking out seven batters.
Victoria Frias pitched 1.2 innings and gave up one run on one hit.
Miah Lusk shut the door, pitching 1.1 innings and struck out three batters and didn't give up a hit while recording her second save of the season. NNU was outhit by WOU 8-2 but worked six walks and were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing four bases.
Emma Bumatay collected the only extra base hit of the game for the Nighthawks but it was a big one, scoring three runs.
NNU is now 28-17 overall and 9-9 in GNAC play. They swap places with Western Oregon in the GNAC standings and now sit in fourth place as they look to make a postseason push. They will finish out the series against WOU tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
