Thursday, May 4, 2023

BURNABY, B.C. – In a game of slim margins, pitching and patience earned Northwest Nazarene the 2-1 walk-off win over Western Oregon on the first day of the GNAC Softball Championships.

Reigning GNAC Softball Player of the Year Maia McNicoll was the hero for the Nighthawks, knocking both the game-tying run in the sixth inning and the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.  She finished the day 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored.

McNicoll made her presence known early in the game, robbing WOU’s Chelby Smalley of a home run in the first inning her back against the fence. After Western Oregon put the first run on the board in the third inning via an Isabelle Lewis fielder’s choice it was McNicoll who leveled the game by blasting a home run over the same fence she defended in the first inning to level the score at 1-1.

In between McNicoll’s left-field exploits, the pitchers and defense ruled supreme. Western Oregon senior Chelsea Smith put together a strong performance in the circle for the Wolves, racking up six strikeouts through 5.1 innings on four hits while allowing just one run. In the outfield, WOU senior Kiah McGlothan was another player to make an impressive play with a diving catch to end the third inning.

Northwest Nazarene junior Sidney Booth got the nod for the start against Western Oregon and threw four innings for NNU. Booth allowed just one unearned run on four hits and a walk while striking out a pair. She also finished the game 1 for 2 at the plate. Between starting pitchers Booth and Smith, the pair struck out five of the first 12 batters.

Senior Tori Hensley finished the game for the Nighthawks, throwing three innings of shutout softball without allowing a hit. After starting the game as the designated player, Hensley finished the game 1 for 4 in the batter’s box.

The seventh inning proved to be the critical moment for the Nighthawks. After holding Western Oregon off in the top of the frame, NNU freshman Emma Bumatay punched through with a leadoff single to put the potential game-winning run on base. The game came to its thrilling conclusion as McNicoll lifted an RBI single in a full count with two outs into left field to bring home freshman Jami Obringer for the game-winning run.

With today’s victory, No. 1 seed Northwest Nazarene will now wait to see its day two opponent, the winner of Western Washington and Western Oregon’s Thursday nightcap.