Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PORTLAND, Ore — Riding high after winning a first-place battle at home last week, the Crusaders hit a speed bump on the road Friday afternoon.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference newcomer Concordia scored early and often, taking game one of a league doubleheader, 8-4 over visiting Northwest Nazarene, then the Cavaliers used a late rally to score a 3-2 win over the Crusaders and a sweep a league twinbill.

"It was definitely one of the hardest days to the stomach as a competitor," NNU head baseball coach Rocke Musgraves said, adding, "but I know this team and I know that we will use this adversity to make us better.

"All championship teams have to go through trials like we went through today so I think we'll use this the right way and learn," NNU's skipper said. "These losses will help us in the long run."

In the opener, the Cavaliers jumped up 3-0 early, but NNU (16-12 overall, 11-7 GNAC) responded with a Josh Hatfield RBI double and a Tyler Davis RBI groundout, making it a one-run ballgame.

Concordia quickly replied, plating four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to break the game open.

Hatfield, Ryan Johnson and Brady Baker each had a pair of hits in the opening loss for the Crusaders, who bounced back quickly and held 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the nightcap.

Kyle Redford scored on a balk in the top of the third inning for the 1-0 lead, and Baker singled in Tucker Campbell in the top of the sixth for the 2-1 lead.

But the game came down to a triple and an error in the bottom of the sixth, which scored two runs, allowing the Cavaliers to compete the sweep.

The two teams meet again Saturday in another GNAC doubleheader with first pitch set for 2 p.m. (MT).