LACEY, Wash. – Northwest Nazarene baseball split Friday's series-opening doubleheader at Saint Martin's, falling 4-3 in game one before a 4-2 win in game two.
The Nighthawks move to 28-11-1 on the season and 18-8 in GNAC play.
Game One
Gavin Brubaker opened the scoring in the first game, driving in
Duke Pahukoa with a double in the second inning. NNU added two more in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead, with
Trevor Tishenkel registering an RBI double and Brubaker a sacrifice fly.
Nighthawks starter
Kyle Ethridge cruised through the first seven innings with just two hits allowed, but ran into trouble in the eighth. Three straight Saints singles loaded the bases before a double brought in two runs to end Ethridge's day. SMU would add two more runs before the inning was over to take a 4-3 lead.
NNU was not able to answer in the top of the ninth as SMU stole the victory to open the series.
Ethridge struck out five in his outing.
Wade Duncan tossed 2/3 of an inning, while
Josh Brown got the final out in the eighth.
Brubaker and Tishenkel had four of NNU's five hits in the game with two apiece.
Game Two
Just like the first game, the Nighthawks got on the board first again in the second inning.
Adam Paganelli led off the frame with a triple before coming in to score on a sacrifice fly from Tishenkel.
SMU picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. NNU responded right away, though, with three in the top of the fifth.
Cole Calnon hit what looked to be a sacrifice fly, but the ball was dropped in right field and everyone was safe with a run coming across.
Liam Herrera then scored on another Saints error as a pickoff attempt on Calnon at first base sailed down the right-field line.
Bryan Rojas added a sacrifice fly before the inning was over to put NNU up 4-2.
Rojas did it on both ends, tossing a complete game on the mound to earn the win. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four across the seven innings.
Paganelli notched two of NNU's six hits in the game.
Next Up
NNU and SMU wrap up their series with another doubleheader tomorrow, with game one set for a noon start in Lacey.
