Game One Boxscore
Game Two Boxscore

LACEY, Wash. - Jon Matos' game-winning two-run double capped a five-run seventh as the Northwest Nazarene baseball team rallied for a 6-5 win in the second game of a GNAC doubleheader this afternoon at Saint Martin's University. 

The Crusaders (14-10, 3-5 GNAC) fell 8-1 in the opening game and will face the Saints (8-20, 4-6 GNAC) tomorrow at Noon for the second half of the conference four-game series in Lacey.

"We found a way to win a game on a day we didn't play good baseball," commented NNU head coach Tim Onofrei.

Trailing 5-1 into the top of the seventh, a lead-off double by Greg Hata, a single from Sean McDonald and a walk by Ben Clare loaded the bases for designated hitter Derek Bettinson. 

Bettinson delivered with a two-run single, plating Hata and McDonald.  Clare would score on Alex Barbee's two-out single, setting up Matos game-winning plate appearance that scored both pinch-runner Tyler Crabb and Barbee.

NNU reliever Barrett Nielson (1-0) earned the win and Aaron Vaughn closed the door for his second save of the year.

"(Alex) Barbee gave us a spark in the second game," Onofrei added.  "He helped get us going...and we needed it."

McDonald and Barbee each finished with two hits in game two with both Bettinson and Matos collecting two RBI's.

The Crusaders managed just four hits against SMU game-one starter Nate O'Bryan (1-5) and scored their lone run in the fifth inning.  Charlie Gorzo led-off with a double, moved to third on a Fernando Robles fly ball and then scored on Jamie Mitchell's sacrifice fly to center field.

McDonald (2-3) took the loss in the opener.