Northwest Nazarene built an 11-2 lead and then held on to defeat Hawaii Hilo 12-7 Tuesday in the final game of a NCAA Division II West Region six-game baseball series at Francis Wong Stadiun in Hawaii. The teams ended up each winning three games in the series.

Zeb Sneed, who evened his record at 1-1, pitched the first five innings for NNU, allowing four hits and one run. He left with a 4-1 lead after the Crusaders scored three runs with two out in the top of the sixth on a single by designated hitter Kramer Uvila and a pair of wild pitches.

NNU added three more runs in the seventh and four in the eighth before UHH rallied for five in their half of the eighth. The Crusaders, however, tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth and J.T. Brodrick got the final three outs in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Catcher Connor Rankin and centerfielder Sean McDonald each had three RBI to pace NNU offensively. Ty Windall (two singles), Rankin (two doubles) and McDonald (triple, single) had two hits apiece.