INDIANAPOLIS - For the first time in program history, Northwest Nazarene baseball has earned a berth into the NCAA Championships Tournament.

If that wasn't great enough, the Nighthawks are also fortunate enough to be hosting the three-team West Regional from May 27-29 in Nampa. NNU is the #2 seed, with Azusa Pacific the #1 seed and Western Oregon the #3 seed.

NNU already knew that their name would appear on the bracket Sunday night after sweeping Central Washington on Thursday and Friday to claim the 2021 GNAC Championship and automatic qualifying bid.

As the #2 seed, the Nighthawks will face #3 WOU in the opening game on Thursday at noon. The team that loses game one will take on top-seeded APU at 3:30 p.m. the same day. A schedule as well as bracket scenarios are below.

NNU is excited to announce that for the first time this spring, fans will be allowed to attend an athletic event on campus as Vail Field will be open to spectators for all games of the regional. Much more information, including fan protocols, ticketing, team previews, the bracket, and a full schedule, is available on the Tournament Central page.

NNU did not play Azusa Pacific this season, and has not faced the Cougars since splitting a four-game series in California in 2016.

The Nighthawks did square off with Western Oregon for a four-game GNAC series this year, splitting the series 2-2 back on April 9 and 10. NNU and WOU were supposed to play in Monmouth at the end of the regular season, as well as in the conference tournament, but the Wolves had to back out of both weekends due to health and safety protocols. 

Live video will be available at this link and live stats at this link. Those links will work for all five games. 

A full preview of the regional will be posted on nnusports.com later this week.

NCAA DIVISION II WEST REGIONAL
at Vail Field, Nampa, Idaho
Thursday, May 27
Game 1: No. 3 Western Oregon vs. No. 2 Northwest Nazarene, Noon
Game 2: Loser of Game 1 vs. No. 1 Azusa Pacific, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 28
Game 3: Winner/Loser of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 1, Noon
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 29 (If Necessary)
Game 5: TBD vs. TBD, Noon

Bracket Scenarios
- This is a double-elimination tournament
- If two teams remain after game two, games three to five will be a best-of-three series between the remaining teams to determine the title.
- If two teams remain after game three, the remaining teams will play in game four. The team that is 2-0 would win the regional title with a game four win. If the 1-1 team wins game four, then the same teams will play again in game five to determine the regional champion.
- If three teams remain and are each 1-1 after game three, then the #2 and #3 seeds will play in game four. The winner of game four will then face the #1 seed in a winner-take-all game five for the regional title.