NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene baseball bounced back from the loss in game two of the series last night to sweep Saturday's doubleheader over Saint Martin's, defeating the Saints 3-2 and 6-2.
Game One
The Saints got on the board first, scoring two on a double in the second inning off NNU starter
Spencer Schwehr. NNU got one back in the fourth when
Rumble Reyes singled, stole second, and then scored on a single from
Duke Pahukoa.
The Nighthawks would finally take the lead in the sixth, when
Grant Kerry launched a two-run homer to make it 3-2.
The duo of
Shane Martin and
Max Holtzclaw combined to keep SMU off the board in the final five innings, with Martin going three scoreless for the win and Holtzclaw two scoreless for the save. Both compiled three strikeouts and allowed just one hit.
NNU had seven hits in the win, with two apiece from Pahukoa and
Haden Keller.
Game Two
SMU scored first again in the second game, pushing a run across in the first inning. NNU bounced back with two in the fourth, as
Walker Moore and
Kyle Payne each had RBI singles to give the Nighthawks a 2-1 lead.
NNU broke the game open with two outs in the sixth, as Payne launched a three-run bomb and Keller made it back-to-back homers one batter later to score four and increase the lead to 6-1.
The Saints got one back in the top of the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough as NNU took the four-run win to earn the 3-1 series victory.
Haden Keller threw four innings to get the win, allowing one run and striking out two.
Blake McFadden tossed the final three innings for the save, giving up one run and striking out three.
Keller was also 3-4 from the plate, Payne finished with two hits and four RBI, and Pahukoa added two more hits.
Next Up
The Nighthawks will be back home next weekend for another series at Elmore Vail Field, hosting Western Oregon for four games from March 18-19.
