LOS ANGELES – Kyle Ethridge, Eryk Lopez and Max Holtzclaw combined to throw a four-hit shutout Saturday as the Northwest Nazarene baseball team won its first game of the 2020 season.

The Nighthawks defeated host Cal State Los Angeles 6-0 after losing 13-4 to Dixie State earlier in the day.

In the nightcap, Ethridge allowed two hits with one walk and one strikeout in six strong innings. Lopez then came in and allowed two hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings and Holtzclaw finished it off with three strikeouts and no hits in 1.1 innings.

"Ethridge gave us a much-needed quality start," NNU pitching coach Matt Hollod said. "He wasn't his sharpest, but competed very well and had a great first college start.

"Lopez also had a very good first appearance. Both those guys will be counted on to give us quality innings this year. Max is going to be one of our main guys and he showed tonight how good his stuff is."

Catcher Ben Johnson provied all the offense that was needed, crushing a three-run home run to center field in the top of the second and adding a run-scoring single in the third.

Haden Keller was 2-for-3 with a run, Shawn Grandmont was 2-for-5 with two runs and Parker Price and John Gonzales each had sacrifice flies.

In the opener, Dixie State built an 8-0 lead before Grandmont doubled in a run and Quentin Ayers homered to make it 8-2.

The Nighthawks scored twice in the bottom of the ninth on a run-scoring walk by Gonzales and an error.

Johnson took the loss in that game, allowing eight runs – five earned – on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Jonathan Ringer allowed one run in two innings and Nick Irwin one run in 2.1 innings in relief.

Ryan Dearing, Ayers, Parker Price, Grandmont, Isaac Hines and Cameron Duke had the hits for the Nighthawks.

NNU is off next week before heading to Colorado Mesa for a four-game set Thursday, Feb. 20-Saturday, Feb. 22.