NAMPA, Idaho – Freshman Nick Irwin and senior Jesse Hilyard combined to throw a four-hit shutout Friday as the Northwest Nazarene baseball team moved ever closer to a playoff berth.

The Nighthawks (20-20 overall, 16-15 GNAC) split with Saint Martin's, winning the opener 7-0 before dropping the nightcap 11-1.

The win combined with two losses for Central Washington means all the Nighthawks have to do is win once Saturday and they clinch their fourth playoff berth in the last five years.

"We weren't really sure what was going to happen this season going in," NNU's Ben Johnson said. "We had a group of guys that all got along really well and we decided to just see what happens. We are playing really well and I think we are getting hot now. Going into the playoffs, I think we'll be the team to beat."

NNU finished 19-31 last season, lost three of its better players to graduation, MLB and a transfer and had a new coaching staff come in. The Nighthawks were picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll, but have been surprising people all year long.

"We are really competitive and know we can beat anyone," Hilyard said. "We have beaten everyone in the conference and some of the top teams in the West Region. We never expected to finish low. We always expect to finish near the top and that's why we are probably going to the postseason."

On Friday, Irwin started the opener and pitched three scoreless innings allowing just one hit. Hilyard then came on in relief and threw six shutout innings, allowing three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

"I thought they did great," NNU coach Joe Schaefer said. "I thought Nick Irwin was as efficient as I've ever seen him and Jesse did an awesome job by taking the recipe for success by pitching in and out and down and forcing them to take bad swings."

NNU scored five runs in the first as Bennett Tabaracci hit a leadoff triple and Parker Price followed with an RBI single before being thrown out at second. Kyle Redford and Rocco Ferrari each singled and stole a base before Hilyard walked to load the bases.

Shawn Grandmont then delivered a bases-clearing double and scored on a Johnson single.

"It is easier to come in when you are up 6-0," Hilyard said. "You already have that confidence and know that all you have to do is throw strikes and rely on the defense."

Hilyard got the win to move to 6-1 on the season, while Johnson was 4-for-4 and Grandmont was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and four RBIs.
In the nightcap, NNU made three errors that led to five unearned runs and a 9-0 deficit after three innings.

"Game 2 was just a very, very poor effort on our part in all three facets of the game," Schaefer said. "We didn't pitch close to good enough. We struggled defensively. And I tip my cap to their starter – he did a good job, but we refused to make adjustments and in all honesty, when you are down that big early, it is tough to have the right mindset."

Cooper Webster (2-5) took the loss allowing six runs – two earned – on three hits in two innings. NNU had just two hits in the game, a double by Hilyard and a single by Cameron Duke. Dylan Cure drove in the lone run.

Now the Nighthawks need to regroup and find a way to get a victory Saturday.

"We are still in a really good position and I like our chances," Schaefer said.