NAMPA, Idaho – With their second West Region title under their belts, Northwest Nazarene baseball is on the way to Cary, North Carolina for the 2025 NCAA Division II Baseball Championships.
 
The eight-team, double-elimination tournament will take place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex from May 30-June 7.
 
NNU has received the five-seed and is set to open against the four-seed UT Tyler Patriots on Saturday, May 31 at 1:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. MT. Regardless of the outcome, the Nighthawks will then play again on Monday, June 2. If NNU defeats UT Tyler, they will advance into the winner's bracket and play the winner of one-seed Tampa and eight-seed Felician at 6:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. MT. If the Nighthawks fall to the Patriots, they will face an elimination game against the loser of the Tampa/Felician matchup at 1:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. MT.
 
Tampa, UT Tyler, NNU, and Felician are all in Bracket 2 of the championships. Bracket 1 is made up of two-seed Central Missouri, three-seed Lenoir-Rhyne, 6-seed East Stroudsburg, and 7-seed Northwood. The winners of each bracket will face each other in the championship finals, a best-of-three series regardless of if either or both teams have one loss earlier in the bracket.
 
 
Fan Information
 
Tournament Central Page: Click Here
Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase online here.
Live Stream: Click Here
 
Ticket Pricing
Single Day - $20.00 ($10 for senior, child, Cary-Wake County residents)
All Session - $50.00 ($25 for senior, child, Cary-Wake County residents)
Senior: 60 and over; child: 12 and under
*prices don't include fees and taxes, and all seating is general admission.
 
 
How They Got Here
History continues to be made for Northwest Nazarene in the 2025 campaign as the Nighthawks have reached the NCAA DII Baseball Championships in Cary for just the second time. At 44-14 overall and 27-5 in conference play, NNU is coming off their third GNAC Tournament title in the last five seasons and fourth GNAC Regular Season Championship in that same span. The 44 wins are a program record and GNAC single-season record, and the Nighthawks enter Cary having won 29 of their last 33 games. As the top seed in the West for the first time in program history, the Nighthawks opened regional play with a loss to four-seed Point Loma, but responded with a win over five-seed Montana State Billings and a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Sea Lions to advance out of the regional pod. At Super Regionals, NNU dominated three-seed Cal State Monterey Bay, holding the Otters to just three runs with victories of 14-0 and 7-3. 
 
NCAA Tournament History

• This is NNU's fourth appearance in the NCAA DII Baseball Championships tournament
• The Nighthawks are 9-8 all-time in NCAA postseason play, including this years' 4-1 record so far
• In NNU's first NCAA Regional appearance in 2021, the Nighthawks won the West Regional as the two seed (only three teams qualified with the CCAA not playing that season) and advanced to the DII College World Series in Cary, North Carolina, where they went 1-2 with a victory over Trevecca Nazarene and losses to Central Missouri and Tampa
• The following season in 2022, NNU was the four seed in the regional and won their first game over Cal Poly Pomona before falling twice to top seed Point Loma
• Last year in 2024, the Nighthawks were the three-seed and dropped a pair of games to six-seed San Francisco State and two-seed Cal State Monterey Bay 

 
NNU Team Notes

• NNU is entering Cary with a 44-14 record and went 27-5 in GNAC play this season
• Both the 44 overall wins and 27 conference wins are new program records (previous overall high of 36 and GNAC high of 23 were achieved last season)
• The 44 wins have also broken the GNAC baseball single-season record, previously 42 by Western Oregon in 2005
• NNU won the GNAC Regular Season Championship for the second-straight season and the fourth time in the last five years
• NNU also won the GNAC Tournament title for the second season in a row and third in the last five years
• The Nighthawks earned the No. 1 seed in the West Region for the first time in program history
• This is also the second time in Northwest Nazarene's Division II history that a team has been the top seed at regionals, joining the 2014 volleyball squad
• Head Coach Joe Schaefer has been a catalyst for NNU's rise to one of the top programs in the West Region, as he enters Cary with a 203-122-1 (.624) overall record in his seventh season at the helm
• Schaefer is undisputedly the most successful coach in Northwest Nazarene baseball history, as he is the only skipper with a total win percentage over .510 and one of just two with winning records in their careers
• Schaefer also has a career head coaching record of 544-349-2 (.609) in 18 total seasons, spending the first 11 years of his career at Point Loma, where he went 341-227-1 (.600)
• NNU is currently averaging a composite ranking of 10^th in the nation, appearing in the latest rankings at 5^th in the ABCA Coaches Poll, 8^th in the NCBWA poll, and 18^th on D2Baseball.com (last D2baseball.com poll was on May 12)
• The No. 5 ranking by the ABCA is the highest ever in program history
• The Nighthawks had a 13-game win streak from March 8 to April 11, and another 8-game win streak from April 18-26
• NNU is one of the hottest teams in all of Division II baseball with a 29-4 record in their last 33 games
• NNU only lost one series this year, falling in two of three games from Feb. 7-8 at Chico State
• In the regular season, NNU went 16-4 at home this year and 22-8 on the road
• The pitching staff is 14^th nationally with a 4.17 ERA, fifth with a 2.81 strikeout-to-walk ratio, fourth with 2.94 walks allowed per nine innings, fifth with eight shutouts, and 13^th with a 1.37 WHIP
• Offensively, NNU is 30^th in the country with a .319 batting average, 21^st with 119 doubles, fifth with 25 triples, and 13^th with 628 hits
• The Nighthawks are 34-4 this year when they score six or more runs and 30-2 when they hold opponents to less than six runs
• NNU is 39-1 when leading after six innings, 24-1 when leading after seven innings, and 23-0 when leading after eight innings this season
• When the Nighthawks hit at least one home run, they are 26-3 on the year
• NNU is 36-3 when they out-hit their opponent this season
• NNU has scored eight or more runs 27 times this year and is 26-1 in those games

 
 
Team Season Records Check (program records in bold)
 
Category                     Stat     Rank    Notes
Wins                            44        1^st        New Record, previous was 36 in 2024
Batting Average          .319     3^rd        .321 in 2010 is 2^nd, .324 in 1983 is 1^st
Slugging Percentage   .495     T-1^st     .495 in 2021 is T-1^st
On-Base Percentage   .403     3^rd        .405 in 1983 is 2^nd, .421 in 1984 is 1^st
Games Played             58        1^st        New Record, previous was 57 in 2015
Runs Scored                453      1^st        New Record, previous was 366 in 2021
Hits                              628      1^st        New Record, previous was 540 in 2010
Doubles                      119      1^st        New Record, previous was 117 in 2010
Triples                         25        1^st        New Record, previous was 20 in 2015
Home Runs                 59        3^rd        62 in 2021 is 2^nd, 63 in 2017 is 1^st
Walks                          223      3^rd        227 in 2021 & 2023 is T-1^st
Stolen Bases               117      1^st        New Record, previous was 104 in 2024
Strikeouts Per 9 Inn.   8.26     5^th        8.55 in 1960 is 4^th, 10.15 in 2022 is 1^st
Shutouts                     8          1^st        New Record, previous was 5 in 2015
Strikeouts                    436      2^nd       490 in 2022 is 1^st
Fielding Percentage    .970     2^nd       .972 in 2024 is 1^st
 
 
 
Potential Starting Lineup (based on # of starts this season and recent games)
C – Jason Bell (31 GS) or Drew Deal (27 GS)
1B – Kaleb Karpstein (45 GS)
2B – Gavin Brubaker (56 GS)
SS – Cole Calnon (43 GS at SS)
3B – Bryan Rojas (51 GS)
LF – Casey Wayne (18 GS)
CF – Carter Walsh (44 GS)
RF – Nin Burns II (57 GS)
DH – Cris Enriquez (52 GS)
SP – Ernesto Lugo-Canchola (15 GS), Cole Calnon* (14 GS), or Landen Parker (8 GS)
 
*When Calnon starts on the mound, the likely scenario is that Brubaker shifts from 2B to SS and Jake Mestas (9 GS) comes in to play 2B. Also, if Calnon hits while pitching then Enriquez's DH spot will be taken out of the order.
 
 
NNU Player Notes
 
Pitchers
Ernesto Lugo-Canchola

• Lugo-Canchola is the first First Team All-American and second overall in NNU baseball's DII history, with the starting pitcher earning the honor from the NCBWA last week
• He also earned Second Team All-American honors from the D2CCA on Wednesday
• He is the fourth NNU baseball player to be named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year, and was also a consensus First Team All-Region selection by the D2CCA, NCBWA, and ABCA
• The Utah transfer immediately established himself as a top pitcher in both the GNAC and across all of Division II, entering Cary with a 12-0 record, 1.94 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, .166 opposing batting average, and 96 strikeouts in 88.1 innings
• At the national level, he is currently fourth in ERA, third with just 5.09 hits allowed per nine innings, third in wins, ninth in WHIP, and 22^nd in strikeouts
• His 12 wins are a new NNU single-season record, his .166 opponent batting average this year is currently second in program history, and his 91 strikeouts are currently third in NNU history
• He has gone at least five innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 15 starts
• In three postseason starts this year, he has allowed just two runs and seven hits while striking out 16 across 21 innings of work

Cole Calnon

• Calnon is the third Nighthawk to be named an NCAA DII All-American, earning Second Team honors from the D2CCA Honorable Mention honors from the NCBWA
• He is also the third NNU player to earn GNAC Pitcher of the Year honors, and has also been named a consensus First Team All-Region pick by the NCBWA, D2CCA, and ABCA
• After only throwing 24 innings last season, the senior has broken out to be one of the best pitchers in all of Division II this season
• Entering Cary, he has a 11-0 record and 2.30 ERA, .247 opposing batting average, eight complete games, and 67 strikeouts to just 15 walks
• He is tied for the national lead in complete games and ranked 15^th in DII in ERA, 25^th with a 1.10 WHIP, and 14^th in the nation with just 1.44 walks allowed per nine innings
• Calnon's career 2.81 ERA at NNU is ninth in program history, and his 1.52 walks allowed per nine innings is currently an NNU record (min. 50 IP)
• When Calnon starts on the mound, NNU is a perfect 14-0 this season
• Calnon has worked into the fifth inning or later in all but one of his 14 starts
• In two NCAA postseason starts, he has allowed just three runs in 12.1 innings of work
• Calnon is also NNU's starting shortstop when not pitching, and is hitting .307 with 12 doubles, three homers, 25 walks, 17 stolen bases, and 33 RBI

Landen Parker

• Parker earned his first All-GNAC pick in his first season at NNU with an Honorable Mention honor
• After starting the season in the bullpen, he transitioned to a starter role midway through the season and has recorded eight starts and 54.0 innings pitched with a 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, and two saves

Wade Duncan

• After a First Team All-GNAC honor last year, Duncan picked up his second-straight All-GNAC selection this season with Honorable Mention honors
• This season, he has compiled a 2.60 ERA out of the bullpen with four saves, a 5-1 record, 35 strikeouts to just four walks, a .216 opposing batting average, and a miniscule .94 WHIP
• His 0.72 walks allowed per nine innings is currently an NNU single-season record
• His career 1.73 walks allowed per nine innings is currently fourth in program history
• He is also fourth in program history with 13 career saves

Jonathan Zayas

• Zayas earned his second All-GNAC nod of his career this year with a Second Team recognition as a relief pitcher, also being named Honorable Mention in 2023
• Across 32.0 innings out of the bullpen for the Nighthawks, he has a 2.53 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .234 opposing batting average, and a ratio of 38 strikeouts to seven walks
• In the super regional clinching win on Friday, he entered with a runner on second and one out in the eighth, and proceeded to strike out the CCAA Player of the Year and then induce a groundout to second to end the threat

Joseph Ihli

• Ihli has been very productive in somewhat limited action this season, throwing 20.0 innings across 12 appearances
• He enters the weekend with a 4.05 ERA and ratio of 18 strikeouts to three walks
• Ihli, a redshirt senior, is the only remaining player on the team from the 2021 College World Series squad, going to Cary as a freshman
• He is also tied for seventh in program history with eight career saves and sixth with 62 career appearances on the mound
• Local kid from Caldwell, Idaho and attended Nampa Christian High School in Nampa

The Rest of the Bullpen

• Adam Brooks (15.2 IP, 4.60 ERA, 12 K, 6 BB), Josh Bishopp (26.2 IP, 6.07 ERA, 26 K, 8 BB), Jakob Rochelle (17.2 IP, 6.11 ERA, 11 K, 8 BB), and Dillon Eden (15.2 IP, 7.47 ERA, 17 K, 9 BB) have been the other Nighthawks with at least 10 appearances on the mound this season

 
Position Players
Nin Burns II

• Burns II has made an immediate impact in his first season in Nampa after transferring from Texas Southern, earning First Team All-GNAC honors
• He was also named Second Team All-Region by both the NCBWA and D2CCA
• The right fielder and leadoff hitter is currently hitting .345 with 13 doubles, 14 homers, 52 RBIs, 31 walks, and 18 stolen bases
• He has smashed the NNU single-season record for runs scored (previously 51) and broken the GNAC mark of 67, entering Cary with 68 this season
• His 77 hits are currently tied for third in a single season at NNU, his 14 homers are currently sixth, and his 52 RBIs are currently tied for third
• Burns had a hitting streak of 15 games earlier this season and an on-base streak of 31 games that was broken at the regional opener against Point Loma

Kaleb Karpstein

• Karpstein earned First Team All-GNAC honors at first base, Second Team All-Region honors from the D2CCA and ABCA, and Honorable Mention honors from the NCBWA
• The junior leads the Nighthawks with a .398 batting average and a .495 on-base percentage, while also registering 12 doubles, five homers, 41 RBIs, and 24 walks
• He is currently on a 27-game reached base streak, the longest current streak on the team
• NNU is 22-3 this year when Karpstein bats third in the lineup
• His .398 batting average is currently eighth in NNU single-season history and .495 on-base percentage is currently tied for sixth
• He is tied for ninth all-time at NNU with 89 career RBIs and ninth with 60 career walks
• Karpstein has a .997 fielding percentage, playing great defense at first base with just one error in 354 chances

Bryan Rojas

• Rojas was named First Team All-GNAC at third base, joining a Second Team honor in 2024
• He was also named ABCA First Team All-Region and NCBWA Second Team All-Region
• The senior third baseman is currently hitting .376 with a team-leading 20 doubles, 10 homers, and 50 RBIs
• His 79 hits are currently tied for first in a single season at NNU, 53 runs scored is second in program history, 20 doubles are tied for fourth, and 50 RBIs are tied for seventh
• For his NNU career, Rojas is currently fifth in program history with a .365 batting average in his two seasons in Nampa
• He is currently on a 23-game reached base streak
• Rojas has been on fire in NCAA postseason play, going 11-22 (.500) with four homers and 10 RBIs in NNU's five games

Cris Enriquez

• Enriquez earned First Team All-GNAC honors at designated hitter in his first season at NNU after transferring from Tarleton State
• He was also named Honorable Mention All-Region by the NCBWA
• He is currently hitting .293 with 12 doubles, six homers, 51 RBIs, and has 25 walks
• His 51 RBIs are currently sixth in a season at NNU
• Played at Tarleton State with current NNU assistant coach and former All-American Grant Kerry

Gavin Brubaker

• Brubaker picked a Second-Team All-GNAC honor in his second season, joining an Honorable Mention award last year
• The sophomore is hitting .311 with seven doubles, six triples, four homers, and 33 RBIs
• He has started 43 games at second base and 13 at shortstop while Calnon is on the mound
• His six triples are tied for 11^th nationally and tied for second in program single-season history

Carter Walsh

• Walsh earned his second-straight All-GNAC honor in his second season in Nampa with Honorable Mention honors, also receiving Second Team and Freshman of the Year honors in 2024
• The sophomore has recorded 40 runs scored, seven doubles, three triples, four home runs, 23 RBIs, 19 walks, and 11 stolen bases
• NNU is 24-2 this season when Walsh hits in the ninth spot in the lineup
• He is tied for fourth all-time at NNU with 38 career stolen bases
• Walsh has also played sparkling defense across 44 appearances in center field (39) and at second base (5), not recording an error in 126 chances this season with 111 putouts and 15 assists
• Local kid from Timberline High School in Boise

Casey Wayne

• Wayne started to see more playing time towards the end of the season, and now figures to be a mainstay in the lineup with Arechiga's injury
• In 33 appearances and 74 at-bats, Wayne has hit .365 with four homers and 21 RBIs
• Wayne had a uniquely impressive GNAC tournament, reaching base safely in all 11 plate appearances with four hits, two homers, and seven walks

Jason Bell

• Bell earned an Honorable Mention All-GNAC nod at catcher for the first time in his senior campaign at NNU
• Sharing catcher responsibilities, he has still managed to make an impact in the lineup with a .242 average, six doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, and 12 walks
• Bell has caught six runners stealing this season and allowed just seven stolen bases while catching

Drew Deal

• Deal has appeared behind the plate for the other half of NNU's games this year, and enters the weekend with a .250 batting average, four doubles, 12 RBIs, 10 walks, and is 9-10 in stolen bases
• Deal has caught seven runners stealing this season and allowed just five stolen bases while catching
• NNU is 23-4 this season when Deal starts behind the plate
• Local kid from Homedale High School in Homedale, Idaho

Misc. Notes

• Current assistant coaches Grant Kerry, Kyle Ethridge, and Eryk Lopez were all players on the 2021 squad that also went to Cary
• Three massive parts of NNU's lineup, the trio of Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, Cole Calnon, and Bryan Rojas played together at Lane Community College in the 2020-21 season
• Starting pitcher Landen Parker and catcher Jason Bell played together at Umpqua Community College
• NNU has only ever faced two of the other seven teams in Cary: Central Missouri and Tampa, both at the 2021 Championships in Cary when they fell to Central Missouri 9-3 and Tampa 5-2
• Northwest Nazarene baseball had a former player make the Major Leagues for the first time in program history last year, when Nampa native Zach Penrod (played at NNU in 2018) made his debut with the Boston Red Sox in September and registered a 2.25 ERA and three strikeouts in seven appearances out of the bullpen