LACEY, Wash. – A strong pitching performance by Northwest Nazarene, and a 14-run inning compounded into two losses for the Saints' softball team in their home opener on Friday.
 
The Nighthawks (10-13, 3-3) delivered with a two-hit shutout, followed by a 14-run third inning in the second game, to complete both victories over the Saints (5-8, 0-2) to open the home season and conference season for SMU.
 
In the first game, starter Kim Nelson (2-6) gave up a run in the first inning, followed by three in the third. The Nighthawks capped off the third inning with a two run home to left field.
 
However, the Saints never found the offense for Nelson, only collecting two hits all game. The Saints had opportunities to score, getting runners in scoring position in the first and seventh inning; however, the clutch hit was never found.
 
In the second game, the Saints jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the second inning. The first run came on a fielder's choice by Devyn Connolly, scoring Sabrina Hicks. The second run of the inning came on a bases-loaded single by Regan Byrd, bringing home Connolly.
 
The Nighthawks responded with force, adding 14 runs in the third inning. Six doubles in the inning, along with a total of 12 hits, resulted the offensive explosion.
 
The hole was too much for the Saints to comeback from, and Lauren Maley (2-5) earned the loss.
 
The Saints return to action tomorrow, Saturday, March 10 at noon for the final two games of the four-game series against Northwest Nazarene. Live stats of the games will be available on smusaints.com.