NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene University baseball team continued its season long roller coaster ride, falling 15-8 and 10-6 to Montana State Billings on Friday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Nighthawks, who seemed to have turned the corner by winning five of their last seven games coming into Friday, hit the ball well, but were undone by their pitching again.

"We just have to get a little more consistent off the mound," NNU coach Rocke Musgraves said, "but we're going to get this thing turned around because I think we have the type of people who want to do that."

The Nighthawks (7-17 overall, 5-9 GNAC) received offensive contributions up and down the lineup, as senior Larsson Chapman was 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in the opener and added a pinch-hit RBI single in the nightcap. Third baseman Justin Folz homered in both games, including off of MSUB's star closer Adam Cox in the nightcap.

"It's nice to see guys do well that work so hard," Musgraves said. "They are doing well because they are working hard. As a coach, it is fun to see the fruits of their labor. Those guys deserve it because they are putting in the time."

In the opener, the Nighthawks fell behind 14-0 in the fourth inning before putting together a bit of a comeback late.

Trailing 15-2, Chapman singled in a run, Haden Keller drove in a run on fielder's choice and Folz blasted a three-run homer to center to make it 15-7. Parker Price scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth, but the Nighthawks could get no closer.

Keller finished the opener 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Casey Sheehan was 2-for-4 and Zach Penrod was 2-for-5.

Brennan Patterson took the loss, allowing eight runs on seven hits in three innings. Bryan Black, Folz and Price combined to throw three scoreless innings to close the game out.

"We are going through a rough patch, but you have to keep believing," Musgraves said. "There are so many people that give up right when they are about to turn the corner. We can't do that, because we will turn the corner if we keep believing."

In the nightcap, the long ball did in the Nighthawks.

Ryan Myers and Kaleo Johnson each homered in the first inning and then Andrew Schleusner and Matt Dillon homered in the sixth as the Yellowjackets hit seven on the day.

NNU had its chances, though, pulling within 4-2, 6-4 and 6-5 before the two big sixth-inning homers.

Folz was 2-for-3 with three runs and the homer off of Cox, who was throwing in the low to mid-90s. It was the first hit Cox has allowed in 12 1/3 innings this season. He had scouts from seven Major League teams in attendance.

Kyle Redford was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Price was 2-for-3 with two runs and Bennett Tabaracci was 2-for-4.

Greg Casper took the loss allowing six runs – five earned – in 3 1/3 innings pitched.

"In order to start winning, we need to have both (hitting and pitching) start clicking," Chapman said. "That is obviously not happening right now."