NAMPA, Idaho - The Nighthawks clinched a spot in the GNAC Tournament with their first win over Central Washington this afternoon. 

Game One: NNU 7, CWU 1

The Nighthawks took control of game one early, scoring in each of the first four innings. After the Wildcats went down in order in the first, Ava Clark worked a full-count walk and stole second. Clark then took third on a Jami Obringer ground out. With Ava Clark at third, Emma Bumatay hit a fly ball to right field to score Clark on a sacrifice fly. 

Paisley Noyer led off the bottom of the second with a single through the left side as Lola Crosby saw four straight balls to walk. A wild pitch advanced both Crosby and Noyer to second and third, respectively. Lauryn Bergevin grounded out to short but was able to score Noyer from third and advance Crosby. Riglee Peterson hit a hard ground ball to third but good baserunning from Crosby got the fielder to hesitate as Peterson was safe at first. With runners at the corners and one out, Annie Swanson laid down a bunt that allowed Crosby to score on the safety squeeze to put NNU up 3-0. 

Three more runs would cross in the bottom of the third for the Nighthawks. Jami Obringer was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Keana Bell knocked in Obringer from second with a single up the middle. Paisley Noyer singled to left and then both Bell and Noyer took an extra base on a throwing error by the left fielder. With two runners in scoring position after the error, Lola Crosby hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Noyer to cap off a three run inning. CWU was able to get on the board as Kayal Brusseau doubled and Jadyn Holdren singled to drive in Brusseau. 

With a 6-1 lead, NNU added another as Ava Clark worked another leadoff walk and stole second. An Emma Bumatay ground out allowed Clark to take third and an error allowed Clark to score.

Miah Lusk (W, 15-7) was still dominant, pitching 7.0 innings with five strikeouts and only allowing one run. This outing brings Lusk's season ERA to a GNAC leading 2.55. Lusk sits at second in the GNAC with 15 wins on the season.
NNU scored seven runs on eight hits and committed one error. Annie Swanson recorded the only extra-base hit for the Nighthawks while Paisley Noyer and Riglee Peterson led the team with two hits each. Ava Clark and Jami Obringer each stole two bases, while Gabi Ramirez stole one.

Game Two: NNU 10, CWU 3

Central Washington started game two with back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. CWU was primed to take an early lead but a ground ball to short cut down the runner at home and a strong throw from Ava Clark on a fly ball to center kept the runners at bay. Rylee McGee worked out of a bases loaded jam as Izzy Vargas grounded out to third. CWU was unable to score any runs. 

The Nighthawks capitalized on the defensive momentum with four-pitch walk to Ava Clark but was thrown out trying to steal second. Jami Obringer then singled to right and stole second while Emma Bumatay worked a four-pitch walk of her own. Ashley Espino stepped up with Obringer at third and Bumatay at second after a Keana Bell ground out. Espino drove a ball into deep left field that cleared the fence for her first home run in her collegiate career to put NNU up 3-0. 

CWU answered in the second inning after Jadyn Holdren hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Mia Flores. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Ashley Espino stepped up to the plate and hit her second homer of the game in as many at-bats. Lola Crosby followed the solo shot with a single up the middle. Crosby stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Riglee Peterson stepped up after Lauryn Bergevin walked, and grounded out to second but was able to score Crosby from third. 

The Wildcats got to McGee in the fifth as Brusseau singled and stole second, Jessica Reitz-Eaton beat out an infield bunt single, and Izzy Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to score Brusseau. After Mia Flores was hit by a pitch, Joelie Eder singled to score Reitz-Eaton. Coach Rich Wagner went to the bullpen and brought in Victoria Frias, who immediately got a ground ball and left two runners stranded. 

NNU broke it open in the fifth inning, scoring five runs after Bumatay doubled to score Obringer and Espino added to her career day with a two-run double. Lola Crosby singled that advanced Kaylee Duncan to third. Crosby stole second and a Riglee Peterson singled scored Crosby and Duncan to take a 10-3 lead and hold on for the win.

Riley McGee (W, 10-5) pitched 4.2 innings, giving up nine hits, three runs, with one strike out. Victoria Frias came out of the bullpen and pitched 2.1 innings and only gave up one hit. NNU was outhit by CWU, 10-9. Ashley Espino totaled three hits, two homers and a double, all career highs for the redshirt freshman. 

NNU secured a spot in the GNAC Tournament and can finish as high as the second seed, depending on tie-breakers. Their record improves to 32-17 and 13-9 in GNAC play, winning seven straight. They will finish the regular season tomorrow against CWU as they honor Kaylee Duncan, Jami Obringer, Olivia Bailey, Lynsey Chiala, Emma Bumatay, and Annie Swanson during Senior Day.