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ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Senior ace left-hander Jaramy Jacobs gave the Crusaders just what they needed on Friday, a much-needed lift that earned the Northwest Nazarene baseball team a split.

After falling 7-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader at Central Washington, Jacobs struck out seven and did not allow an earned run, setting the tone from the mound for a 3-2 Crusader win in a battle for second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

"Jacobs is throwing the ball well right now, that's two good outings in a row for him," NNU head coach Rocke Musgraves said. "He pitched around some shoddy defense for a very gutsy outing."

Leading the Crusaders (20-20 overall, 18-12 GNAC) to a win that keeps them tied for second with the Wildcats (24-16, 18-12), who scored a comeback win in the opener.

After giving up an unearned run in the bottom of the first, Jacobs (5-3) shut down Central Washington, which got just two more hits off NNU's southpaw over the next five innings.

And with Jacobs in command on the hill, the NNU offense gave him just enough support with three runs in the top of the second inning as designated hitter Brady Baker singled home two runs, and Tim Jones added an RBI double for a 3-1 lead.

After six strong innings, Jacobs turned it over to Baker who earned his fourth save despite giving up a run in the seventh, as NNU's closer was helped by some strong defense.

"Senior Colton McCluskey made a nice play to end the game," Musgraves said.

Erasing the bitter taste of an opening loss after NNU jumped up 3-0 with a run in each of the first, third and fourth innings.

The Wildcats plated three in the bottom of the fourth inning, then took control with a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth.

NNU had chances to answer but stranded 10 runners on base, including loading the bases with no one out to start the ninth, but only getting a solo run out of the late threat.

"Our hitters need to begin competing every pitch instead of taking so many bad breaking balls and drivable fastballs," Musgraves said. "We take hanging breaking balls, which is a complete mystery to me."

McCluskey led the NNU offense, going 4-for-9, while Tim Jones had a pair of hits in the opener and another in the nightcap, and Billy King added a base hit in each game for the Crusaders, who play another doubleheader at Central Washington on Saturday at 1 p.m. (Mountain Time).