LACEY, Wash. – The Northwest Nazarene University baseball team got two of its best pitching performances this season, though it didn't add up to any wins.

Brennan Patterson was sharp in the opener, but suffered the hard-luck 4-1 loss. Greg Casper was brilliant in relief in the nightcap, but the game was suspended by darkness with the score 1-1 in the ninth inning.

That game will be completed Monday before the scheduled doubleheader.

"I felt really good about the pitching performances by Greg Casper and Brennan Patterson today," NNU coach Rocke Musgraves said. "I think we can build on those and start finding some success."

The Nighthawks (2-13 overall, 0-5 GNAC) are mired in an 11-game losing streak as they've struggled to get consistent pitching from either their starters or their relievers.

Saturday was different though, as Patterson allowed two runs – one earned – in 4 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed just three hits, but walked five and struck out six.

Casper struck out 10 in relief of Ryan Mets, including working around a man at second with one out situation in the bottom of the seventh for the Saints (2-11, 1-4).

Ryan Connor led the offense in the opener going 2-for-4 with a triple and scoring a run, while Parker Price had the RBI and Justin Folz was 2-for-3.

"I thought at times we swung the bats really well and just hit it right at people," Musgraves said. "This is one of those times that is very tough on a baseball player, because everything you do seems to not work out and so it seems like the harder you work the more things don't turn out and you start pressing.

"If we can get people to relax and not press, we're going to be just fine."