Irvine, Calif. - Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks started off their season with a split on their first series of the season as they were unable to stop the Golden Eagles comeback in game one.
GAME ONE: 6-7 (H. Mahaffey, 0-1)
The Nighthawks offense would start on the gas pedal in the first game as Parker Sobiesiak would get on base to leadoff the game, and eventually score on a wild pitch. Parker would then come up again and get an RBI single in the second inning to make the score 2-0 after two.
The offense wouldn't stop there as they made their presence felt on the basepaths and Elliot Brown would come up and reach base on an error by the shortstop, scoring Kyle Becker and Adrian Arechiga.
As the fifth inning came up, a runner would get on via error, and Becker would hit a double down the line scoring a run. Brown would follow suit with a double of his own and getting his third RBI of the game, making the score 6-0.
Myles Anderson took the bump for the Nighthawks in game one. Anderson started off strong on the hill as he got through four innings of work clean and only giving up three hits. During the fifth however, the Golden Eagles were able to get to him as two runners got on and Knowles was able to get a hold of one and send it over the wall for a three run homerun.
Anderson would then give up two more hits leading to a fourth run and Tyson Rutherford would come into the game as relief. Rutherford would come in and give up a hit before getting the third and final out of the inning. Rutherford would then continue to throw in the 6th inning giving up a couple more hits and another run, bringing CUI within one run.
Hunter Mahaffey would come in to pitch his second day in a row and struggled. Mahaffey would go and get two outs and give up two runs before head coach Joe Schaefer would go ahead and bring in Wade Duncan to get the third out in the 7th. Duncan would go back in and pitch a clean 8th inning.
Sadly the offense wasn't able to get any more runs across after the top of the fifth and the Golden Eagles would take a second game from the Nighthawks.
Game Two (7 Innings) : 4-2 W (C. Talley, 1-0)
Game two would start off with a bang once again for the Nighthawk offense, as they were able to get three runs across on four hits. Two of those runs came off a wild pitch and Adrian Arechiga getting an RBI off of a fielder's choice.
The second and third innings were straight defense and neither team were able to do any damage heading into the fourth. CUI would be able to score one against Corban Talley as they would get their first run of game two on two hits and a hit by pitch.
The Nighthawks were able to respond in the top of the fifth inning as Mason Leavitt was able to single up the middle and steal a base before Sobiesiak was able to hit one into the left center gap, scoring Leavitt.
Corban Talley would finish his outing after five innings of work, only giving up one run on seven hits. Talley racked up five strikeouts and only allowed one walk, throwing 51 pitches in five innings and getting the win.
Kyle Becker would come in to pitch for Talley and struggle, getting one out before loading up the bases with one hit and two walks. Gavin Brubaker would come in to get the second and third outs of the inning as one run came across in the inning.
The 7th Inning would be uneventful as there was only one hit by either team and no more runs were able to score off of Brubaker. The Nighthawks walk away from this weekend with an even 2-2 record. They continue their trip in California on Tuesday as they stop at Azusa Pacific for a two game series.
Nighthawk Player Highlights From Day Two:
Parker Sobiesiak: 5-8, 2 RBIs, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB
Corban Talley (1-0) : 5.0 IP, 6 Ks, 1 BB, 1 ER (51p - Win)
Elliot Brown: 1-3, 3 RBIs, 2B,
