NAMPA, Idaho—Starting the day tied for second place in the conference standings, Western Oregon and Northwest Nazarene ended the day in another stalemate following a GNAC softball split on Friday afternoon.
Northwest Nazarene (17-18, 8-6 GNAC) defeated the Wolves 10-2 in the opener before Western Oregon (20-16, 8-6 GNAC) returned with an 11-5 win in the second half of the doubleheader. The two teams will close out their series with two more contests on Friday, April 6. Opening pitch is set for noon at Halle Field.
Game 2: Western Oregon def. Northwest Nazarene, 11-5
Hitting her second and third home runs of the day, center fielder Zoe Clark sparked WOU to an 11-5 win to split the Thursday doubleheader against NNU.
The Wolves took an immediate lead with a 4-run 1st inning as Jenna Kelly, Nikki Miller, Zoe Clark and Kiley Lynn all registered RBI swings in the opening frame.
The Nighthawks responded in the home half of the 1st with three runs of their own only to see the traveling team plate five additional runs before the end of the 4th.
After tripling in the 1st, Clark smashed a 3-run homer in the 3rd for a 7-3 lead. The Wolves tacked on two more runs in the 4th before Clark belted another homer, this time a 2-run shot to left, in the 7th for a career-best six-RBI line.
Lizzet Dominguez allowed five runs (4 earned) on 12 hits while tossing a complete game for the Wolves. Dominguez improved to 11-3 on the season with the win.
Game 1: Northwest Nazarene def. Western Oregon, 10-2 (6 inn.)
Holding a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 4th, Northwest Nazarene placed a five-spot on the board to break the game open en route to a 10-2 win in the opener.
Batting with the bases loaded, Lily Paschal drove in the first run of the fateful 4th with a fielder's choice while Cassidy Fifield used an infield single to reload the bases for Anna Williams. Turning on a 1-1 count, Williams lofted a ball to deep left-center field for the grand slam and an 8-2 advantage.
The Nighthawks loaded the bases again in the 6th inning and scored two more runs to end the contest. Batting with one out, Lisa Sylvester drove in the final score with a single to center field.
Jordan Adams earned the win with a complete game performance in the circle. Adams struck out 10 batters while allowing seven hits in the six innings of work.
Tyler Creach led WOU at the plate by going 3-for-3 in the leadoff position. Zoe Clark connected on a solo home run in the 4th.
