TURLOCK, Calif. – Freshman outfielder Haden Keller did it all Saturday, leading the Northwest Nazarene University baseball team to a 10-8 victory against Stanislaus State to earn their first win of the season.

Keller hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning and then robbed a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to help hold the lead.

"He made a monster play in the bottom of the ninth," NNU coach Rocke Musgraves said. "Our vets did a good job of keeping our young pups calm and also modeled how to compete in pressure situations."

Jesse Hilyard (1-0) got the win in relief, giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. He also hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning for some much-needed insurance runs.

"Hilyard flat out metaphorically punched his opponent in the face today," Musgraves said. "They kept punching back and landing blows, but Jesse was the last person standing."

The Nighthawks head back to California for a three-game series against California State Chico next Friday and Saturday.

Against Stanislaus State, the Nighthawks (1-2) scored four runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-3 lead but the bullpen couldn't hold it as Stanislaus tied it at 6-6 in the bottom half.

Hilyard led off the top half by reaching on an error. Keller then hit a 2-1 pitch to right field for a two-run homer and an 8-6 lead.

After allowing a run on a one-out double in the eighth, Hilyard helped his own cause hitting a homer to left on the first pitch he saw scoring Bennett Tabaracci who had reached on a single.

In the bottom half, Stanislaus had runners at first and third with one out when Keller robbed Andrew Renteria of a three-run homer to left. Hilyard allowed the next batter to reach, but stranded the tying runs on base by inducing a groundout to end the game.

"We will use these three games to put together some practice plans this week," Musgraves said. "I think the number one thing that our team learned this week was that talent doesn't win baseball games, but mental toughness does."

Zach Penrod finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Casey Sheehan was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Kyle Redford had a two-run double.