Thursday, May 3, 2018
PORTLAND, Ore. – A three-run fourth inning was all that No. 1 Northwest Nazarene needed to earn its first-ever GNAC Softball Championships victory Thursday as the Nighthawks knocked off No. 4 seed Western Oregon, 3-0, in the second game of the tournament at Porter Park.
Ivy Hommel, starting in place of the injured Cassidy Fifield, delivered the winning runs with a two-run single to left center field. Hommel then supplied an insurance run when she scored on Anna Williams’ single.
The inning backed up a tremendous performance by GNAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year Jordan Adams, who struck out 13 for her 18th win of the year. She allowed five hits and one walk on a total of 102 pitches.
With the win, the Nighthawks will face Simon Fraser in Friday’s opener at 2 p.m. The No. 3 seed defeated No. 2 Central Washington in Thursday’s opening game, 9-0 in five innings. The Wolves and Wildcats will play in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m.
Haley Fabian took the loss for Western Oregon in relief, allowing three runs on two hits with two walks in three innings of work. Tyler Creach led the WOU offense as she went 2 for 3.
Western Oregon opened the game with a double down the left field line by Creach and a single by Ryanne Huffman. Adams, however, proceeded to strike out the next six batters she faced. The Wolves threatened again in the third on leadoff singles by Ayanna Arceneaux and Creach, but Adams once again proceeded to strike out the side to quell the rally.
The Nighthawks had opportunities of their own in the first two innings but failed to cash in off of WOU starter Maddie McClelland. Kylie Orr singled with one out in the first, but was erased when Brittany Genuardi hit into a double play. Lisa Sylvester was hit by a pitch to open the second, went to second on Shelbie Martinez’s single and to third on a passed ball.
It looked as if Sylvester would score on Abigail Otto’s fly ball to left, but Arceneaux threw a rope to Sylvester for the out at home. A single by Olson and a walk to Ivy Hommel loads the bases, but Lily Paschal hit into a ground out to retire the side.
The Nighthawks finally broke through against Fabian in the fourth. Sylvester was hit for the second time to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a ground out. Otto reached on a walk, both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch and both scored on Ivy Hommel’s single to left center field. Hommel made it 3-0 two batters later, scoring on Anna Williams’ single to right.
Sydney Bowers led off the sixth inning for Western Oregon with a single. Arceneaux followed by drawing a walk, but Bowers was wiped off the bases when Creach hit into a double play to end the Wolves best late-game scoring threat.