NAMPA, Idaho – The Central Washington University softball team jumped back into conference action with a road split at 22nd-ranked Northwest Nazarene Friday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
 
GAME 1
 

• Final: Central Washington (4), #22 Northwest Nazarene (3)
• Records: CWU (11-19, 6-3 GNAC), NNU (23-7, 6-3 GNAC)

 
GAME 2
 

• Final: Central Washington (1), #22 Northwest Nazarene (3)
• Records: CWU (11-20, 6-4 GNAC), NNU (24-7, 7-3 GNAC)
• Location: Bobby Welch Halle Field, Nampa, Idaho

 
GAME 1:
 
SCORING:
 

• Alyssa Benthagen started the series off with a bang drilling a home run to right field in the first inning to score Makenna King in the process and make it an early 2-0 Wildcat lead.
• Jillian Hampson added on in the top of the fifth when she singled to center field to score Karsyn Decker which was followed by Sasha Mitchell doubling to left field to score Hampson and increase the crimson and black lead to 4-0.
• The Nighthawks wouldn't go quietly as Emma Bumatay singled up the middle in the bottom of the sixth to score Ava Clark and make it 4-1 CWU.
• Abigail Gagnon followed suit in the sixth singling up the middle to score Clarissa Moreno and cut the Wildcat lead in half, 4-2.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Clark would single to left center to score KK Bell and make it a 4-3 Wildcat lead.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Ashlee Laver pitched another complete game for the Wildcats allowing seven hits, three runs, two walks, and struck out two against 31 batters.
• Sidney Booth pitched all seven innings for NNU allowing nine hits, four runs, three walks, and struck out 10 against 33 batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats finished with nine hits led by King and Decker with two each.
• Hampson, Mitchell, Benthagen, Brooke Jordan, and TK Kai all finished with one hit apiece.
• Benthagen finished with two RBI while Hampson and Mitchell each had one RBI.
• Benthagen drew two walks while Jordan drew one.
• The Nighthawks finished with seven hits, led by Clark with two.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:
 

• Jordan put the 'Cats up first in the top of the third when she singled through the left side to score Hampson and make it a 1-0 Wildcat lead.
• NNU responded in the bottom of the third as Emma Mulligan homered to left field to tie the game at one.
• In the bottom of the fifth, Booth reached on a fielder's choice paired with a throwing error by the second baseman would score Mulligan and make it 2-1 NNU.
• Still in the fifth, Bumatay singled up the middle to score Moreno and increase the Nighthawk lead to 3-1.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Zoey Theophilus started the game for CWU pitching 4.2 innings allowing six hits, three runs, one walk, and struck out one against 23 batters.
• Payton Kessler pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing one walk but struck one out against five batters.
• Gina Skinner pitched all seven innings for NNU allowing five hits, one run, one walk, and struck out four against 27 batters.

 
HITTING:
 

• The Wildcats finished with five hits as Hampson, Mitchell, Jordan, Serena Perez, and Laney Kaysner all finished with one hit apiece.
• Jordan had the sole Wildcat RBI in the game.
• Hampson drew the lone Wildcat walk.
• The Nighthawks finished with six hits led by Mulligan with two.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• The Wildcats and Nighthawks have met 114 times all-time with CWU owning the series 84-34.
• The Wildcats are 35-20 in Nampa all-time.
• CWU holds a 71-23 conference record against NNU.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats and Nighthawks will be back in action tomorrow with another doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. PST from Bobby Welch Halle Field.