NAMPA, Idaho – When Jalen Fuhriman entered the game Saturday, the coaching staff didn't tell him how long he was going to pitch.

Normally the Northwest Nazarene baseball team's closer, Fuhriman entered in the fourth inning with his team on top 4-1.

He proceeded to close the game like normal, it just took 5 2/3 innings to do so.

The Nighthawks split their doubleheader Saturday with Concordia and Fuhriman was a big reason why, as NNU (18-15 overall, 14-11 GNAC) won the opener 5-3 and lost the nightcap 9-6.

"My arm is definitely hanging. It hasn't been used to throwing that much," he said. "I didn't approach it any differently. I'm a max effort guy, so it was 100 percent on every pitch."

Fuhriman hadn't started a game since high school, but that didn't deter the coaching staff from asking him to go long Saturday.

"It was a fairly pivotal moment in the game and Jalen was our best available guy," NNU coach Joe Schaefer said. "He's mature and he understands his role and he's a pretty good stopper. I think he went longer than I anticipated he was going to be able to go, especially after throwing (Friday) a little bit.

"I was really impressed with him."

Fuhriman allowed two runs on one hit with no walks and four strikeouts in his 5 2/3 innings to earn his second save of the season.

He was one of six pitchers on the day for the Nighthawks, who have had to patch together a starting staff this season.

They have even started using an opener at times, which was made popular last season in MLB by the Tampa Bay Rays. Basically, a reliever starts the game and goes an inning or two and then turns it over to a starter type for a longer stint.

"It is really good to see guys giving it their all," NNU senior Kyle Redford said. "We aren't very deep in our pitching staff and guys are battling out there. That is what we need right now to make a good playoff run."

Greg Casper started the game, going two innings with one hit and two strikeouts. Dylan Cure then came on and went 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with a walk before giving way to Fuhriman.

"I think everyone understands who we are. We are a little untraditional in a lot of aspects," Schaefer said. "It's not the same every weekend, but I think these guys like it.

"They are buying in and believing in it and having some fun with it."

Parker Price, Redford, Jesse Hilyard and Michael Hults all drove in runs for the Nighthawks in the win.

In the nightcap, the game was tied 5-5 after four innings but the Cavaliers scored three in the fifth to pull away.

Redford was 2-for-4 with an RBI, Hilyard hit a solo homer and Bennett Tabaracci, Ben Johnson, Casper and Hults all added RBIs.

NNU took three of four on the weekend and trails Western Oregon by just a half of a game for second place in the league with 12 games to play.

"With conference being so close, that is really big to take three," Fuhriman said. "Especially going into next weekend with MSUB."

The Nighthawks will face first-place Billings for four games next weekend. NNU hosts Lewis-Clark State in a single nine-inning game at 4 p.m. Tuesday.