NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene utilized two strong starts to take the final two games against the Western Oregon University softball team on Saturday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Sidney Booth tossed a one-hitter in the first game to lead NNU to the 3-0 win and then Tori Hensley added a two-hitter in the nightcap to lead NNU to the 9-0 win in five innings.

Reilly Tidwell and Maddie Mayer kept WOU (19-23, 4-12 GNAC) in it throughout the first game in the circle limiting the Nighthawks (25-15, 13-3 GNAC) to just four hits.

With rain falling to start the first game, NNU was able to strike for two runs on a hit in the opening inning before a rain delay halted play for roughly 45 minutes. Out of the delay, the Nighthawks tallied another run in the second to move in front 3-0.

Logan Carlos was the first runner aboard for the Wolves in the fourth when she battled to a full-count walk. Kirah McGlothan added a walk in the fifth, but WOU wasn't able to get anything going in either inning.

With two outs in the sixth, Sophie Franklin broke up the no-hitter with an 0-2 single through the left side. Booth then took over getting four straight strikeouts to end the game with NNU taking the 3-0 victory.

NNU held the 4-1 edge in hits and WOU committed the only error. Franklin had the only hit and both Carlos and McGlothan reached on walks. In the circle, Tidwell ended up with the loss (3-5) allowing three earned runs in two innings. Mayer was strong in relief tossing four scoreless innings and added three strikeouts.

Four players had a hit for NNU with Maia McNicoll driving in two runs. In the circle, Booth improved to 12-8 on the season with her complete game shutout, adding 13 strikeouts.

In game two, defensive miscues got NNU on the board in the second inning as three errors brought in two runs for the Nighthawks for the 2-0 lead after two.

Offensively, Franklin was the first baserunner in the opening inning being hit-by-pitch and later stealing second. In the third, Carlos walked again on a full-count, but WOU wasn't able to bring either runner in.

NNU pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third. WOU then threatened in the fourth. Erica Soliz picked up the first hit of the game with a one-out single to right. Kate Ronning later reached on an error before a groundout retired the side.

The Nighthawks put the game out of reach in the home half of the fourth plating six runs on three hits to take the 9-0 lead. In the fifth, Carlos kept the game going with a two-out single before a groundout ended the game early with NNU winning 9-0 in five innings.

NNU held the 5-3 edge in hits and there were five errors in the game, four committed by the Wolves. Carlos and Soliz tallied the hits for WOU and Carlos also drew a walk. Mayer started game two going 3.1 innings to end up with the loss (6-9) allowing six runs (three earned) and three strikeouts. Chelsea Smith went the next third of an inning allowing three earned runs and Soliz tallied the final out in the fourth.

Five players had a hit to lead NNU with Hensley driving in three and Booth with two RBI. In the circle, Hensley went all five innings for the shutout victory (6-3), adding three strikeouts.

WOU returns home this coming week to host Western Washington for the final home series of the regular season. The four-game series opens on Saturday at 12 p.m. and continues on Sunday also starting at 12 p.m. which will be senior day for the Wolves.