BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The NNU softball team split the first double-header of the weekend with Western Washington on Friday afternoon.
Game One: NNU 4, WWU 3
The Nighthawks upset Western Washington in game one of the road series after a clutch late double from
Ava Clark.
Western Washington found themselves with an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Maleah Andrews reached on an error, stole second and was driven in on a Hailey Rath double to lead 1-0.
NNU was in a good spot to respond in the second after
Emma Bumatay led off with a double and
Hailey Harris singled up the middle to put runners on first and second with no outs. A
Lauryn Bergevin strikeout put
Lola Crosby to the plate who then legged out an infield single to load the bases. However, a fly out and strike out would strand the bases loaded without scoring a run.
The Nighthawks were eventually able to even things up in the third inning and
Ava Clark led off with a single and stole second, her 22nd stolen bag of the year. Clark would tag up on a deep fly out to center to put herself at third with one out. With the tying run just 60 feet away,
Keana Bell singled to right and even it up at one.
The Vikings took the lead in the fourth inning on a solo shot to left center off the bat of EmmaJoy Wise but NNU responded the top of the fifth.
Ava Clark continued her nice day at the plate with a lead off triple but back-to-back outs on an infield pop up and strikeout put the Vikings just one out away to escape the leadoff threat.
Emma Bumatay was able to capitalize on the leadoff triple with an RBI single through the left side to knot it up at two.
The Nighthawks were able to take the lead in the top of the sixth after
Lola Crosby recorded another hit and
Riglee Peterson singled down the third baseline to put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Molly Buckingham was unable to advance the runners as she struckout but
Ava Clark notched her second double of the day. She jumped all over the first pitch and sent it to left center, one-hopping the base of the wall. With both runners running on contact, both Peterson and Crosby scored easily to put NNU on top, 4-2.
Yet again, Western Washington scored another in the bottom half of the sixth. With runners on second and third,
Victoria Frias delivered the pitch wide and Crosby was unable to block it but got a fortunate bounce off the backstop. The runner from third stopped half way and headed back to third but the runners ended up backed up as Rath attempted to advance on the pitch. Frias fired to second in hopes of getting Rath out but missed high, allowing Andrews to score.
The Nighthawks were able to hold on to the narrow lead despite the tying run reaching in the bottom of the seventh.
Miah Lusk (W, 12-4) pitched 5.0 innings while giving up four hits, three runs, and had four strike outs.
Victoria Frias recorded her first save of the year while pitched 2.0 innings and only giving up one hit.
Ava Clark lead the Nighthawks with three hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
Lola Crosby also recorded three hits with one run scored.
Emma Bumatay and
Hailey Harris each had two hits in the win.
Game Two: NNU 4, WWU 9
Errors plagued the Nighthawks in game two as they committed five errors.
Ava Clark reached base yet again, this time with a lead off walk.
Jami Obringer took a free pass to first as well to put runners at first and second.
Emma Bumatay singled to load the bases and
Hailey Harris got hit by a pitch to score Clark. With one out,
Lola Crosby hit a fly ball to left which scored Obringer on the sacrifice fly. The Nighthawks lead 2-0 after one inning.
Much like game one, WWU answered quickly as they were able to work a lead off walk and then a single that put runners on the corners. A double steal would score Chacon from third. The game would remain hitless until the bottom of the third when Western Washington's Maleah Andrews hit a two-out double. Rath then singled up the middle and advanced on a fielding error that allowed Andrews to score the tying run. EmmaJoy Wise tripled down the right field line to drive in Rath from second and give Vikings the lead.
This time it was the Nighthawks who responded with a tying run as
Riglee Peterson singled and stole second.
Annie Swanson and
Ava Clark worked back-to-back walks while Peterson took third on ball four of Swanson's plate appearance. With bases loaded,
Jami Obringer took strike one and was then hit by a pitch to score Peterson and tie the game at three runs apiece.
The bottom of the fourth was the turning point of the game as NNU committed three errors that allowed three Vikings' runs to score two unearned runs, three total runs.
NNU was able to score in the sixth after
Riglee Peterson led off the inning with a single up the middle and stole second.
Ava Clark then doubled down the right field line and scored Peterson to bring the Nighthawks within two.
The Vikings added three more to their lead in the bottom of the sixth and would hold on for a 9-4 win to take game two.
Riley McGee (L, 5-2) pitched 3.0 innings and gave up six hits, five runs, and had three strikeouts. Three Nighthawks pitchers were used in releif as
Victoria Frias pitched 2.0 innings giving up four runs on four hits.
Mia Traylor was unable to record an out but only gave up one hit before
Hailey Harris came into to pitch the rest of the inning and recorded one strikeout.
Riglee Peterson led the Nighthawks with two hits and a walk.
Ava Clark,
Jami Obringer,
Hailey Harris, and
Lola Crosby each had an RBI.
