NAMPA, Idaho – The Western Oregon softball team, playing as the home team after a weekend series set for Monmouth was moved due to weather, earned two wins of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader over Northwest Nazarene by scores of 5-1 and 2-1 (8 innings), Friday at Halle Field.
 
The Wolves improve to 16-13 overall and 3-5 in conference play. The Crusaders fall to 17-19 and 7-7 in the GNAC.
 
Both teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday, April 8 at 12 noon Mountain time to conclude the four-game series.
 
GAME ONE – Western Oregon 5, Northwest Nazarene 1
Sophomore pitcher Haley Fabian (7-6) tossed a complete game allowing one run on eight hits with three strikeouts leading the Wolves to the series-opening victory.
 
The Crusaders scored a run in the top of the first inning before Western Oregon responded with two runs. Kelsie Gardner led off with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a Ryanne Huffman single. The duo executed a double steal allowing Gardner to score from third base. Ashley Doyle cashed in Huffman with a ground ball single through the right side to give the Wolves a 2-0 lead.
 
WOU got two leadoff runners aboard via singles from Doyle and Zoe Clark in the bottom of the fourth. Mercedes Green had the third consecutive hit, an infield single to second base, to score pinch-runner Gabriella Alonso. A well-place sacrifice bunt moved the two baserunners into scoring position. The decision to sacrifice paid off when Cheyenne Rimer doubled down the left field line for a 5-1 advantage.
 
Fabian shut the Crusaders down allowing just two hits after the fourth frame. Doyle led an eight-hit WOU attack going 2 for 3 with a RBI. Seven players had a least one hits.
 
GAME TWO – Western Oregon 2, Northwest Nazarene 1 (8 innings)
WOU outhit Northwest Nazarene 9-8, but it was the go-ahead single in the bottom of the eighth from Clark that gave the Wolves a 2-1 victory. Sammi Cadwallader (6-2) got out of a jam inheriting two runners with no outs in the top of the eighth to earn the win in relief. Lizzet Dominguez pitched into the eighth inning, earning a no-decision after scattering a run on eight hits and three walks.
 
Gardner and Jenna Kelly each had two hits to lead the WOU offense.
 
The Wolves struck in the fifth to break a scoreless stalemate. Huffman beat out an infield single for a RBI, scoring Ashlee Lynch.
 
Northwest Nazarene loaded the bases in the seventh and plated the equalizer with a run-scoring single to left field. Dominguez was able to keep the potential winning run at third base inducing a pop-up to left field to end the threat.
 
WOU got runners on first and second with one out on a Destiny Kuehl single, Kelly sacrifice bunt and walk to Doyle. Clark closed the game in walk-off fashion with a single to left field, scoring pinch-runner Alonso.