BILLINGS, Mont. – The Northwest Nazarene baseball team scored seven runs in two innings to salvage a split with Montana State Billings on Saturday, ending a five-game losing streak.

The Nighthawks won the nightcap 10-8 in eight innings after losing 15-11 in the opener.

NNU trailed 7-3 entering the top of the seventh before scoring five runs to take an 8-7 lead. The Yellowjackets immediately tied it in the bottom half, but the Nighthawks struck back with two outs as Ben Johnson delivered a two-run single for a 10-8 lead.

Billings loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning, but Jesse Hilyard struck out the next two batters to get the win.

"There is no question it was big," NNU coach Joe Schaefer said. "Every game in and of itself is huge over these last three weeks, regardless of who it is against. The bottom three or four teams are all jumbled together, so every win goes a long way."

The win not only halts the losing streak, but it keeps the Nighthawks (19-19 overall, 15-14 GNAC) in the driver's seat for a playoff spot. They lead the fourth and fifth place teams by two games in the loss column. NNU has eight games remaining, all at home.

NNU hosts Saint Martin's in a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.

In the top of the seventh Friday, Hilyard opened with a double and went to third on a double by Parker Price. Kyle Redford then hit a two-run single to make it 7-5 with one out. Rocco Ferrari then walked and Dylan Cure singled in a run to make it 7-6. Shawn Grandmont was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Nathan Cassara reached on a run-scoring fielder's choice to the shortstop to tie the game.

Cameron Duke then hit an infield single for an 8-7 lead.

Billings (22-18, 22-10) quickly tied it with back-to-back doubles to open the bottom of the seventh, but Hilyard worked out of trouble to send it to extras.

In the eighth, Price drew a one-out walk but was caught stealing for the second out. Redford then singled and Ferrari doubled to put runners at second and third. Johnson then singled through the right side for a 10-8 lead.

"Ben Johnson had an awesome two-strike at bat," Schaefer said. "We struck out 27 times on the day, so a good two-strike at bat with runners in scoring position was huge."

In the bottom half, the Yellowjackets got a pair of singles and a hit batsman to load the bases with one out before Hilyard buckled down and struck out the next two batters to end the game.

"Jesse's line doesn't look great, but he pitched really well," Schaefer said. "It's a tough place to pitch and they are a very offensive team and they punish any mistake left over the plate, so you have to be pinpoint. He was pretty good."

Redford was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Price, Ferrari and Dylan Cure all added two hits and an RBI. Price pitched the first four innings, allowing four runs – one earned – on three hits. Hilyard then came in and gave up four runs on eight hits in four innings to earn his fifth win of the season.

In the opener, NNU scored six runs in the seventh to pull within 10-9 but couldn't get over the hump in the losss.

Price had an RBI single, Ferrari a three-run homer, while Cassara scored on an error and Grandmont scored from second on a wild pitch.

Bennett Tabaracci was 4-for-5 with two runs scored, while Ferrari had the three RBIs and Price was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Johnson added two hits. Ryan Connor took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in 1.1 innings pitched.

"In terms of the psyche of the team, getting a win is big," Schaefer said. "Knowing we could have won three of four with one less mistake here or one better pitch there or one better at bat … we were in every game and we know we can hang with anybody. Hopefully in the next few weeks we figure out how to win those tight games."