Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

NAMPA, Idaho - It was a day of celebration as the NNU softball program honored six seniors while also completing a sweep of CWU and clinched the third seed in the GNAC Tournament.

Game One: NNU 14, CWU 6 (5 Innings)

Central Washington got to Lusk early in game one of the regular season finale, scoring two runs in the second inning on back-to-back sacrifice flies. Trailing 2-0, the Nighthawks responded about as well as you can. Ashley Espino set the table with a lead off single and was pinch ran for by Audrey McKibben. After Lola Crosby reached on an error, she stole second to put runners at second and third. Lauryn Bergevin had two runners in scoring position as she singled ot right field and took second on an errant throw home as two runs crossed. With the scored evened up at two, Riglee Peterson walked and Annie Swanson beat out a bunt single. Swanson's hit would turn over the lineup to Ava Clark who doubled to right, scoring Peterson from third and Bergevin from second while Swanson took third. Jami Obringer kept the line moving as she reached on a fielder's choice, as Annie Swanson beat the throw home and scored. The Nighthawks were up 5-2 without any outs and Jami Obringer stole her first bag of the day. Emma Bumatay now had two runners in scoring position without any outs and sent ball to deep left center field that cleared the fence to put NNU up 8-2. 

The Wildcats clawed back with three more runs in the third, one on a throwing error and two more on a single to right center. Northwest Nazarene answered right back in the third inning as Riglee Peterson beat out an infield single and stole second. Annie Swanson then singled to left to score Peterson. CWU's Reese Anderson came in to pitch for the Wildcats and immediately walked Ava Clark on four pitches. Jami Obringer worked a full-count walk to load the bases for Emma Bumatay. An interference call on Ava Clark recorded the first out of the inning but kept the bases loaded. Keana Bell then reached on a fielders choice as Swanson beat out another throw home. Lauryn Bergevin delivered a base knock through the right side to record two RBIs to extend the NNU lead, 13-5.

Another run would come in for Central Washington on a Jadyn Holdren double to score McKayla Cable but NNU added one of their own in the bottom of the fourth. On an Emma Bumatay sacrifice fly to bring in Olivia Bailey. NNU would take game one in five innings due to the eight-run rule after five innings of play.

Miah Lusk (W, 16-7) went the distance with 5.0 innings pitched, giving up six runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. NNU recorded 14 runs on 11 hits while committing two errors. Emma Bumatay hit her 12th homer of the year which is second in the GNAC. Obringer stole two bases after drawing two walks while both Lola Crosby and Riglee Peterson stole a base.

Game Two: NNU 5, CWU 4

Game two required late game heroics from Jami Obringer as the Nighthawks earned a comeback win to close out the regular season. 

Annie Swanson continued her nice day with an RBI double in the second inning to score fellow senior, Olivia Bailey, in the second inning. 

Central Washington put up four runs in the fourth inning as Brooke Baker doubled to score two and Jessica Reitz-Eaton hit a double of her own to score two more. CWU proceeded to sit the Nighthawks down in order in the fourth but would allow them to start the comeback in the fifth. Another Ava Clark walk and stolen base put a runner in scoring position for Jami Obringer who singled up the middle to score Clark. NNU trailed 4-2 as Jami Obringer stole second to bring her season total to 43 and career total to 84. A wild pitch allowed Obringer to take third and a dropped third strike allowed Obringer to score and Bergevin to reach first on the passed ball. The Nighthawks were now within one-run but a ground ball would end the chance for NNU.

Trailing by one run, Ashley Espino walked and was pinch ran for by Audrey McKibben. McKibben stole second but back-to-back outs made it seem like the home team would need walk it off in the bottom of the seventh. Ava Clark kept the inning alive with an infield single that advanced McKibben to third. Clark stole second, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Jami Obringer stepped up and hit a hard ground ball that went between the third baseman's legs to score the tying and go-ahead runs. 

NNU completed the comeback as they set CWU down in order to secure the 5-4 win.

Riley McGee got the start in the circle, pitching 3.0 innings giving up four runs on five hits with one strikeout. Victoria Frias (W, 3-0) pitched 3.0 innings, only giving up two hits while Lynsey Chiala earned her first save of the year. Jami Obringer's three stolen bases today brought her season total to 43 and career total to 84. She is two steals away from tying GNAC single season stolen base record and three away from the career record. 

Northwest Nazarene finished the regular season with a 34-17 overall record and 15-9 in GNAC play. NNU's 34 overall wins is the most this season of any GNAC team. They will head to the GNAC Tournament next week in Ellensburg, Washington. They earned the number three seed and will face off against number two seeded Western Washington.
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