NAMPA, Idaho — The Simon Fraser University Clan softball team split a doubleheader with Northwest Nazarene, losing the opener 8-0 but taking the second game 11-3, Friday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball action.
Simon Fraser lost the first game in five inning but regrouped to take an 11-3 victory in six innings in Game 2.
The Crusaders (12-13 overall, 6-6 GNAC) left little doubt in the opener as pitcher Brooke Bonsen (7-3) struck out one and scattered five hits in the shutout, then got plenty of help from the NNU offense.
The Crusaders scored four runs in the second, three in the third and one in the fourth which brought on the 8-run mercy rule after five innings.
The Clan used three pitchers in Game 1 with sophomore
Alia Stachoski lasting just 1.2 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Senior
Jessica Goulet and freshman
Jessica Tate couldn't stop the NNU bats in the contest.
"We really didn't show up in game one," said Clan head coach
Mike Renney. "NNU took full advantage of our miscues and sub-standard pitching performance for the victory."
The Clan (17-14, 8-6) turned it around in the nightcap, plating four runs in the top of the first inning and never looking back.
Leading 4-2 after two innings, the Clan plated six in the top of the third inning to break the game open. The Clan scored 11 runs on 11 hits in the contest.
Outfielder
Rachel Proctor went 3-for-4 with one double, knocking in four RBI to lead the Clan offensively. Senior
Alex Baylak also went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Tori Belton went the distance for the Clan scattering four hits while giving up just three runs in six innings.
"It was good to see we were able to bounce back from one of our poorest showings of the season," said Renney. "We made a number of key defensive plays we didn't make in game one and got our bats back on the track. It may have not been Belton's best outing on the mound but she dug in and worked her way out of a couple of jams to pick up the complete game victory."
NNU hosts Simon Fraser in another doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Follow the SFU Clan softball team for behind the scenes pictures and more all season long on their official Instagram account @sfu_softball.
--@SFUClan--
