ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Softball Team fell on day two of their home-opening weekend to the visiting Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks Saturday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
 
GAME 1:
 

• Final: Central Washington (1), Northwest Nazarene (6)
• Records: CWU (3-18, 1-6 GNAC), NNU (13-11, 3-4 GNAC)

 
GAME 2:
 

• Final: Central Washington (1), Northwest Nazarene (16) (5 Innings)
• Records: CWU (3-19, 1-7 GNAC), NNU (14-11, 4-4 GNAC)
• Location: Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field, Ellensburg, Wash.

 
GAME 1:
 
SCORING:
 

• Charlotte Forniss opened the scoring in the third inning when she homered in a grand slam to put the Nighthawks up 4-0.
• Zoey Theophilus put CWU on the board in the fourth inning when she sacrificed herself to the second baseman to score Jessica Reitz-Eaton and make it 4-1 NNU.
• The Nighthawks added on in the seventh when Moreno sacrificed herself to score Mulligan followed by Forniss singling to the shortstop to score Clark to send the Nighthawks to the victory, 6-1.

 
HITTING:
 

• Karsyn Decker led CWU with two hits while Reitz-Eaton produced one.
• Theophilus had the lone RBI for CWU.
• Halle Dilger and Melise Brown each drew one walk.
• The Nighthawks were led by Clark and Forniss who each had two hits.
• Forniss had five RBI.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Payton Kessler pitched all seven innings allowing seven hits, six runs with only four earned, and three walks while striking out three of 32 batters.
• Miah Lusk pitched the first 4.1 innings allowing three hits, one run, and two walks, but struck three out out of the 18 batters she faced.
• Riley McGee pitched the final 2.2 innings not allowing any hits, runs, or walks and striking out two of nine batters.

 
GAME 2:
 
SCORING:
 

• McKayla Cable sacrificed herself to the shortstop in the first inning to score Reitz-Eaton and put the 'Cats up 1-0.
• The Nighthawks got on the board in the third when Mulligan doubled down the right field line to score Nai Garcia, followed by Clark singling up the middle to score Mulligan and Moreno doubling to right center field to score Clark to make it 3-1 NNU.
• Still in the third, Forniss added on when she doubled to right center field to score Moreno followed by Keana Bell doubling down the right field line to score Annie Swanson and Forniss to put the Nighthawks up 6-1.
• Clark tacked on more in the fourth inning when she singled up the middle to score Molly Buckingham followed by Forniss singling up the middle to score Clark and make it 8-1 NNU.
• Moreno sacrificed herself to the left fielder in the fifth inning to score Emilie Hernandez followed by Forniss singling to center field to score Clark and Mulligan, followed by Jami Obringer earning a bases loaded walk to score Forniss, and capped by Hernandez having a grand slam homerun to make it 16-1 NNU.

 
HITTING:
 

• Reitz-Eaton, Decker, and Reese Schimmel all had one hit apiece.
• Heidi Heytvelt drew the lone walk for CWU.
• Forniss led NNU again with four hits and tied with Hernandez with four RBI.

 
PITCHING:
 

• Olivia Ross pitched the first inning allowing six hits, three runs, and no walks against nine batters.
• Theophilus pitched 2.1 innings allowing six hits, five runs, and one walk but struck out three of 13 batters.
• Amelia Roberts pitched 1.1 innings allowing two hits, five runs, and three walks against 10 batters.
• Alex Flohr pitched the final 0.1 inning allowing one hit, three runs, and one walk but striking one out of four batters out.

 
SERIES HISTORY:
 

• CWU leads the all-time series 85-42.
• The 'Cats are 43-16 in Ellensburg over NNU.
• NNU is 9-1 in the last 10 games.
• The crimson and black are 72-28 over NNU in conference games.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The 'Cats will head to Big Sky Country to tackle a four-game series against Montana State Billings on Friday and Saturday March 21 and 22 from Avitus Group Stadium in Billings. Friday's action starts at noon PST while Saturday's game one starts at 11:00 a.m. PST.