Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NAMPA, Idaho – Twice in two days, freshman Alan Embree strolled to the mound with the bases loaded and games hanging in the balance.

And twice, he escaped major trouble.

He did so Friday with the tying runs in scoring position to help the Northwest Nazarene baseball team grab a 5-3 victory against Saint Martin's in the second game of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader.

"I just come in and see I have a job to do in this spot to clinch the game for my guys," the 6-foot-8 righty said. "I just got to keep a level head for my job and get the guy."

With the bases loaded and two outs he induced a fly ball to center fielder Casey Sheehan to sew up his first save of the season and the win for starter Cooper Webster, who had run into trouble in the seventh.

On Thursday, he pitched the final two innings of a 10-4 win coming in with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth. He gave up a fielder's choice groundout and then started a 1-6-3 double play to escape trouble.

In neither game did he appear to show any fear about the situation.

"I've been able to deal with nerves pretty well in my career thanks to my father and how he has trained me and helped me come up," he said of his dad who had a 16-year Major League career and won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox. "Usually when I get to a high-pressure situation it is easy for me to keep my mind on it."

That fact isn't lost on his teammates or his coaches.

He has been part of the recent surge in strong pitching by all of the Nighthawks (12-22 overall, 10-14 GNAC), who were sharp again Thursday.

"He's been really good. (Thursday) he came in and kicked butt," Webster said. "He has been fitting into that role of coming in and getting things done and doing his job."

The win was big because the Nighthawks dropped the opener 5-2 despite strong pitching from starter Adam Paulson, who allowed four runs – two earned – on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings. Zach Penrod also gave up an unearned run as NNU made a pair of costly errors.

It led to another series split as the Nighthawks are in a fight with Concordia for the fourth and final playoff spot as the second half of conference play gets underway.

"Last weekend, we had such success at the plate that it kind of shocked us that we weren't hitting the ball as well this week," Webster said. "Coming into the last half of the season – especially after our start – we need to win as many games as we can. So losing that first one to them, we were definitely a little bit down."

But Webster, Embree and some timely hitting quickly lifted NNU's spirits.

Trailing 1-0 in the first, Jesse Hilyard tripled to center field scoring Sheehan and Justin Folz. Penrod then hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead. In the second, Parker Price singled in a pair of runs and it was all that the Nighthawks needed.

"Cooper is just so consistent," NNU coach Rocke Musgraves said. You can never tell if we are winning or losing with him on the mound, because he always has that consistent attitude which is really nice.

"Today we did a good job of being able to rebound from a tough first loss."

NNU travels to Montana State Billings for a four-game series next weekend.