ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Northwest Nazarene split their doubleheader with Central Washington on Friday, dropping a tight first game before responding in dominant fashion in game two to earn a split on the day.
Game One: 2-3 (D. Eden 4-1)
Game one was a defensive battle that slipped just out of reach for the Nighthawks, as Central Washington capitalized on early mistakes to secure the one-run victory.
The Wildcats struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a fielding error to plate an unearned run. They would tack on another in the second inning on a double play ball that brought a run across, giving CWU an early 2-0 lead.
The Nighthawks responded in the third inning, showing signs of life offensively. Liam Herrera continued his strong day at the plate with an RBI double to left field, scoring Caleb Boswell. Shortly after, Parker Sobiesiak delivered a sacrifice fly to even the game at 2-2.
However, Central Washington regained the lead in the fifth inning with an RBI double down the left field line, which would ultimately stand as the game-winning run.
Dillon Eden got the start for the Nighthawks and suffered his first loss of the season despite a solid outing. Eden went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs (only two earned) on seven hits while keeping the Nighthawks within striking distance.
Out of the bullpen, Hunter Bennett, Tyson Rutherford, and Hawk Hill combined for 3.2 scoreless innings, giving the offense a chance late.
Offensively, NNU outhit CWU 10-9, with Herrera leading the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, including a double and an RBI. Boswell and Karpstein each added multi-hit efforts, but the Nighthawks were unable to find the timely hit late, stranding seven runners in the game.
Game Two: 12-1 (C. Talley 6-0)
Game two was all Nighthawks from the start, as they exploded offensively and backed it up with dominant pitching to secure an eleven run victory over the Wildcats.
The Nighthawks jumped out early in the second inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues by CWU. Gavin Brubaker got things started with an RBI single, and Liam Herrera followed with another RBI knock as NNU quickly built a 3-0 lead.
From there, the offense never slowed down.
Kyle Becker launched a solo home run in the third inning, and Carter Walsh added a two-run shot in the fourth to extend the lead. The big blow came in the fifth inning when Parker Sobiesiak crushed a three-run homer to left field, breaking the game wide open and pushing the lead to 10-0.
Becker wasn't done yet, adding his second home run of the day in the sixth inning as part of a three-hit, three-run performance.
On the mound, Corbin Talley was dominant once again, improving to 6-0 on the season. Talley went six strong innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out nine. He kept the Wildcats off balance all game long and set the tone early.
A.J. Hendrickson came on in relief to close things out, securing the final inning and completing the convincing win. The Nighthawks offense finished with 12 runs on 12 hits, drawing six walks and showcasing a balanced attack throughout the lineup.
The Nighthawks continue their road series in Ellensburg as they look to secure the series win against Central Washington in tomorrow's double header matchup. First pitch is scheduled for Noon local time, and 1pm here in the Mountain Time Zone.
Nighthawks of the Day:
Liam Herrera: 5-6, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 2B, BB Kyle Becker: 4-8, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 Runs Gavin Brubaker: 4-8, 3 Runs, 2B Corbin Talley: 6.0 Ip, 1 ER, 9 SO, 5 H
