LACEY, Wash. — The Saint Martin's Softball team went 3-1 in its home series against Northwest Nazarene at Saints Field on March 21 and March 23.
After falling in game one, the Saints bounced back with three straight wins, including a game three that saw a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The series moved the Saints' record to 18-12 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play, moving into a tie for second place in the GNAC standings.
Game 1: Saint Martin's 2, Northwest Nazarene 8
- A massive five-run first inning for the Nighthawks made it an uphill battle for the Saints, who chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the third to trim the deficit to 5-2.
- The Saints were unable to add any additional runs after the third and were limited to two total hits, as NNU added two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, carrying out an 8-2 victory.
Top Performers
Game 2: Saint Martin's 5, Northwest Nazarene 1
- The Saints wasted no time taking the lead, as Heather Ebner and Kaylee Walker each grounded out to score runs, giving the Saints a 2-0 lead after one inning.
- Kayla Vaughan pitched a strong start, keeping the Nighthawks scoreless for the first five innings and picking up her seventh win of the season.
- The Saints added three runs in the bottom of the fifth, doing so off an RBI single from Kaylee Walker and a two-RBI single by Jennessy Lopez, putting Saint Martin's ahead 5-0.
- The Nighthawks added one run in the sixth, but Amanda Peterson pitched a scoreless final two innings to earn the save and close out a 5-1 victory for Saint Martin's.
Top Performers
Game 3: Saint Martin's 4, Northwest Nazarene 3
- Game three was neck-and-neck, as the outcome came down to the final inning.
- NNU built a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, as a single and triple scored two runs.
- The Saints bounced back in the bottom of the third, as Kaylee Walker doubled to score Shelby Lawson and Haley Agena.
- Both teams scored runs in the fifth inning, as the Nighthawks hit a home run and Taylor Orgeles hit a flyout that resulted in an error to score Shelby Lawson.
- After a scoreless six innings, the Saints saw the first two batters retired in the bottom of the second. Saint Martin's gathered momentum with an intentional walk of Heather Ebner and a single from Kaylee Walker, bringing Taylor Orgeles to the plate. Orgeles singled to center field, with Eva Spencer advancing from second to home to beat the throw and score the game winning run, sealing a 4-3 victory for the Saints.
Top Performers
- Kaylee Walker went 2-3 with two RBIs.
- Shelby Lawson went 1-4 and scored two runs.
- Amanda Peterson picked up the win, throwing one scoreless inning in which she allowed just one hit and struck out one batter.
Game 4: Saint Martin's 3, Northwest Nazarene 1
- The final game of the series was low-scoring, as a two-run first inning for the Saints proved to be crucial.
- Kayla Vaughan pitched a scoreless opening five innings, keeping the Nighthawks off the board as the Saints led 2-0 heading into the sixth.
- The Nighthawks scratched across a run in the top of the sixth, but Amanda Peterson got the Saints out of the inning without any further damage, leading 2-1.
- Saint Martin's got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Heather Ebner singled to score Shelby Lawson.
- Peterson retired the Nighthawks in the top of the seventh, securing a 3-1 victory in game four and clinching a 3-1 series victory for the Saints.
Top Performers
- Kaylee Walker went 3-4 with one RBI.
- Shelby Lawson went 2-3 with two runs.
- Haley Agena went 2-3 with one run.
- Vaughan earned her eighth win of the season, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing just one run off four hits, striking out five batters.
- Amanda Peterson pitched a scoreless final 1.1 innings, striking out one batter and pickup up her fourth save of the year.
Up Next
The Saints will hit the road, facing Montana State Billings on March 27-28 for a four-game GNAC series.
