NAMPA, Idaho – Northwest Nazarene baseball split with Saint Martin's on Friday. The Nighthawks took game one 9-5, and the Saints took game two 7-5.
The Nighthawks are now 21-27 overall and 15-15 in GNAC play.
Game 1
The Saints jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a home run to right field after a couple of walks.
In the bottom of the second inning,
Adam Paganelli brought
Duke Pahukoa in to score with a single to left field. The next batter,
Quentin Ayers worked a walk.
Kyle Payne went on to hit a single that scored Paganelli. Before the inning ended,
Mason Leavitt hit a sac fly to center field that scored Ayers, tying the game at 3-3.
The Nighthawks took their first lead in the bottom of the third inning when
Manny Casillas singled to score Pahukoa.
After the Saints tied the game in the top of the fourth inning, Payne came to the plate with two runners on and delivered a three-run home run to left field that gave the Nighthawks a 7-4 lead.
SMU scored their final run of the game in the top of the seventh inning, but the Nighthawks scored two in the bottom half of the inning to take the 9-5 lead.
Dylan Plutner opened the game on the mound for NNU with two innings of work. The only hit he allowed was the early three-run home run.
Spencer Schwehr threw the bulk of the game with 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits and two runs while collecting three strikeouts. Shane "Bon" Martin came in and slammed the door to close out the game with two scoreless innings.
Game 2
In the bottom of the second inning, the Saints led 3-0 after two solo home runs and a sac fly.
Kyle Payne helped NNU answer back with a two RBI base hit. Later in the inning, Payne scored on an RBI double from
Kaleb Karpstein, bringing the game to 3-3.
The Saints reclaimed the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning, one of which was unearned.
Tyler Best led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double. He advanced to third with a base hit from Payne and came in to score on a wild pitch. Karpstein scored Payne with a sac fly to center field.
Duke Pahukoa came to the plate later in the inning with two outs and bases loaded. He hit a ball deep to center field that brought the fans to their feet, but the Saints' center fielder made a good catch against the wall to end the Nighthawks hopes in the sixth.
Apart from a well hit line drive base hit by
Austin Thomason, NNU went away quietly in the seventh.
On Deck
The Nighthawks continue their series with two games tomorrow. Senior ceremonies are taking place just prior to the 12:00 pm first pitch.
