[Box Score - Game One] [Box Score - Game Two]

NAMPA, Idaho - The Western Oregon softball team split a pair of one-run decisions against host Northwest Nazarene in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday. The Wolves won the opener 3-2 but dropped the nightcap 7-6.

The split puts WOU's record at 10-22 (7-13 GNAC). The Crusaders now sit at 13-19 (12-10 GNAC) on the year.

Game One
A pair of unlikely heroes in freshmen Ashley Gardner and Alex Hillmick lifted Western to a 3-2 victory over NNU in Saturday's opening game.

The Wolves scored two quick runs in the top of the first behind a two-out, two-run homer from senior Jessica Hallmark that drove in sophomore Andrea Bailey. The home run was Hallmark's ninth of the season.

NNU put one run on the board in the second on a solo home run. An RBI single in the fifth tied the game at 2-2.

While the Crusaders were tying the game, WOU was having a difficult time getting on base. NNU's Chelsey Anderson retired 11 consecutive batters over five innings. Junior Kendra George's single in the fifth was Western's first hit since the first inning.

Despite WOU's struggles, they managed to produce when it counted. Junior Bailey Rueck singled to lead off the seventh. George reached on a fielding error on the next at-bat. Freshman Alex Hillmick's flyout to left field advanced both runners, setting up Gardner's subsequent sacrifice fly that scored Rueck. The run put the Wolves back on top at 3-2.

Knowing that the Crusaders had come from behind to win both of yesterday's contests, Hillmick shut the door on NNU, earning two quick outs on a pair of groundouts. A Crusader managed to reach first on an error before advancing to second on a passed ball, but Hillmick responded, forcing her third groundout of the inning to end the game.

Hillmick's (5-7) complete game, her eighth of the season, saw her surrender four hits and three walks. She struck out two and forced NNU into 16 groundouts, including one double play.

Hallmark paced WOU with two hits and two RBIs.

NNU got a pair of hits from Kristin Refsland. Anderson (7-6) gave up six hits for the Crusaders. She fanned two and gave up no walks.

Game Two
Two runs in the bottom of the seventh outdid senior Jessica Hallmark's go-ahead homer in the top of the seventh as NNU stole the nightcap 7-6.

WOU found the scoreboard first, notching one run in the second inning after Hallmark scored on a passed ball.

Northwest Nazarene responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the second thanks to an RBI double.

Western gained some separation in the third, scoring a trio of runs to take a 4-1 lead. Senior Jessica Wood connected on a one-out triple to left center, scoring senior Tierra-Lyn Cuba and junior Kendra George. The triple was the first of Wood's career. Hallmark drove in Wood behind a sacrifice fly to center field on WOU's next at-bat.

The Crusaders used a solo home run and an RBI double in the fourth, along with a two-run homer in the fifth, to go back on top at 5-4.

Western tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth after freshman Ashley Gardner was driven in on a two-out single from George. George would advance to second on the hit, after which sophomore Andrea Bailey drew a walk. Bailey stole second followed by a walk to Cuba, loading the bases. The Wolves were unable to cash in on the opportunity, however, striking out on their final at-bat of the inning.

After a scoreless sixth from NNU, Hallmark would put WOU ahead 6-5 on a lead-off solo shot down the left field line, her tenth of the season. Three consecutive outs promptly ended any more chances for the Wolves.

The Crusaders once again played spoiler in the seventh, using a pair of walks and a single to load the bases before a walk-off double to left center scored two runs, giving the hosts the victory.

Wood started the game for the Wolves, recording two K's while giving up five hits and no walks. Freshman Alex Hillmick (5-8) was saddled with the loss in relief.

Hallmark was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate on the day. Freshman Ashley Worthey also had three hits for WOU, registering her seventh double of the year. Hallmark and Wood had two RBIs apiece.

NNU's Nicole Grummons (6-12) tallied seven strikeouts while ceding ten hits and two walks.

Grummons and Arielle Chao had a pair of hits for the Crusaders. The two, along with Haley Hevern, drove in two runs apiece.

Next Time Out
The Wolves return home for the first time in nearly a month, playing host to GNAC foe Saint Martin's in a pair of doubleheaders next weekend. Saturday's game are set to start at noon while Sunday's doubleheader will commence at 11 a.m.