Friday, May 3, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two early runs were more than enough for sophomore Jordan Adams as she led No. 4 seed Northwest Nazarene to a 3-0 victory over Western Oregon in the first GNAC Softball Championships elimination game at Porter Park.

Adams went seven complete innings on Friday afternoon, striking out seven while allowing just three hits to improve her record to 14-7 on the year. 

Getting the job done at the plate were catcher Brittany Genuardi and second baseman Shelbie Martinez, each finishing the day 1 for 3 with an RBI. Genuardi now has 35 RBI on the season, ranking second on her team and ninth in the conference as the postseason rolls on. 

She helped the Nighthawks get out to an early lead on Friday, putting the ball in play in the bottom of the first to score senior Cassidy Fifield from third base. The next at-bat brought Martinez to the plate, where she promptly drove in the second run of the day with a productive groundout to short.  

Freshman Maddie Mayer (10-4) impressed from that point on but was dealt with the loss, allowing just one earned run and three hits in her six innings in the circle. Mayer finished the contest with a pair of strikeouts.

Sophomore Ayanna Arceneaux led the Wolves on offense, finishing the day 1 for 2 at the dish. Arceneaux entered the day leading the GNAC with a .480 batting average.

Northwest Nazarene was able to tally an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth before Adams shut the door on WOU. It was outfielder Madison Strickler who extended the lead to 3-0, scoring senior Lauren Bassett on a fielder's choice.

With the win, NNU advances to face Central Washington in Friday's elimination contest at 3:00 p.m. The winner of that contest will then advance to Saturday's final against host Concordia.