Lake Elsinore, Calif. – The NCU softball team got into the win column on Friday afternoon as they split their first two games at the NAIA SoCal Classic.
 
University of Antelope Valley 6, Northwest Christian 0
 
The Beacons ran into the strong pitching of Mackenzie Poller in their opener as they struck out eight times and managed just two hits against the Pioneers. Anabel Mendez and Alissa West picked up singles for the Beacons. Senior Emma Jegtvig took the loss for NCU, allowing four earned runs over three innings.
 
Northwest Christian 4, William Jessup 3
 
NCU scored their first runs of the season and picked up their first victory of the season with a strong showing against the Warriors.
 
Jessup got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first but the Beacons answered with back-to-back two-run innings to take a lead they would not relinquish. NCU collected nine hits in the game led by 2-for-3 performances from Mendez and West. Savannah Graham added a two-RBI single for her first hit of the year and Anna Cardwell (pictured) posted a double and a stolen base.
 
Freshman Liberty Walker picked up the complete-game victory, giving up just three unearned runs as the Beacons committed three errors. She struck out one batter and gave up seven hits in her first career win.
 
 
The Beacons will continue the tournament on Saturday, facing University of Saint Katherine at 10:00 am and Hope International University at 12:30 pm.