Friday, May 13, 2022

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Northwest Nazarene could not make magic happen twice in a row against the region’s top-seeded team Saturday as the Nighthawks saw their season come to an end with a 4-0 loss to Cal State San Marcos in the NCAA West Regional at the CSUSM Softball Field.

After holding the Cougars to just three hits in a shutout on Thursday, Cal State San Marcos returned the favor by limiting Northwest Nazarene to just two hits in the game. Savannah Coyle also allowed three walks and struck out four for her 18th victory in the circle this season.

The Cougars manufactured their first run in the top of the first. Nikki Andelin drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Gianna Lombardi’s sacrifice fly.

The 1-0 score held until the sixth when Andelin hit a two-out double and scored on Lombardi’s single to left field. The Cougars parlayed a two-out error into two runs in the seventh inning.

Northwest Nazarene’s first scoring chance came in the fourth. Sophomore Sidney Booth reached on a one-out walk and pinch-runner Siolo Church advanced to third on junior Tori Hensley’s single before being stranded on senior Ivy Hommel’s strikeout.

Freshman Charlotte Forniss led off the fifth inning with a single and pinch-runner Mackenzie Oakes advanced to second on sophomore Madison Felter’s sacrifice bunt. Coyle proceeded to coax the next two batters into outs, the first of seven straight retired to close the game.

Hensley took the loss for the Nighthawks, ending her season at 10-5. She allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Hensley and Forniss had both of the Nighthawks’ hits.

With the loss, Northwest Nazarene ends its season at 35-21. Cal State San Marcos (42-12) will play Sonoma State on Saturday for the chance to advance to the West Region Super Regional.