Game One
Game Two

NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene University baseball team swept an NCAA D.II West Region doubleheader against The Academy of Art University on Friday evening, winning the opener 11-4 and the nightcap 8-3 at Elmore Vail Field.

 

The Crusaders (19-7 overall) would see contributions from all nine hitters in the opener, with seven players finishing with two hits, one player with one hit, and while Cameron Louie was 0 for 2, it was his sacrifice fly in the sixth inning that provided the eventual game-winner for the Crusaders.

 

NNU starter J.T. Brodrick improved to 5-1 on the season, striking out seven and walking none in eight strong innings.  Wade Broadstreet (0-4) took the loss for Academy of Art (3-22).

 

AAU was led by Zach Babitt and Alex Rosenthal at the plate.  Babitt finished 2 for 4, including a solo home run in the eighth, and Rosenthal was 2 for 3 with an RBI single in the seventh.

 

The Crusaders jumped out quick in game two as lead-off hitter Sean McDonald homered on the first pitch in the bottom of the first.  AAU answered with an RBI single in the third by James Singzon, but the Crusaders would respond with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and not look back.

 

Zach Hibbard paced the Crusaders in the nightcap, going 2 for 3, while Ryan Worley was 3 for 4 and Singzon finished with two hits for AAU.

 

Patrick Patterson (1-0) earned the win for NNU, entering in relief of starter Jesse Gwaltney, who tossed the opening three frames.  While not a save situation, Kalen Hruza came in relief of Patterson and closed the door for the Crusaders in the seventh.  Zach Mexicano (2-5) took the loss for the Urban Knights.

 

The teams return to Vail Field tomorrow for a doubleheader that begins at Noon.