Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

NAMPA, Idaho - The NNU baseball team used a 12-run fourth inning in game two of the double header to run away and secure a day-one sweep.

Game One: NNU 7, CWU 2

The Nighthawks struck early, scoring four runs in the first inning. After Carter Walsh reached on an error and advanced to second, Gavin Brubaker singled to left which scored Walsh. NNU kept the line moving as Kaleb Karpstein singled to put runners on first and second from Kyle Becker who also singled, scoring Brubaker. Another error in right allowed both Karpstein and Becker to advance to second and third. A sacrifice fly from Parker Sobiesiak scored Karpstein and another error that allowed Adrian Arechiga to reach allowed Becker to score. 

Neither team was able to get much offense going until Adrian Arechiga singled up the middle and promptly stole second. After Jake Mestas popped up to third, Arechiga stole third without a throw, with a 2-2 count and a runner at third, Liam Herrera grounded out to short but was able to collect the RBI as Arechiga's aggressive base running paid off. 

CWU answer in the top of the fifth with two runs on three hits and an error but gave the momentum right back to NNu in the bottom half of the frame. Gavin Brubaker knocked a one-out double to left center and Karpstein singled through the right side to score Brubaker from second. The home team was unable to do anything after that, leaving two runners stranded.

Northwest Nazarene added a another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Jake Mestas led off with a single and Herrera followed with a single of his own. With Mestas going first to third on Herrera's single, Henry Henkel struck out but Carter Walsh legged out a bunt single on the squeeze play to score Mestas.

Dillon Eden (W, 6-1) had a fantastic outing on the bump, going the distance with 9.0 innings pitched, earning his sixth win of the season and punching out five in the process. NNU collected 11 hits while only committing one error. Gavin Brubaker had the team's lone extra-base hit but Brubaker, Karpstein, and Mestas each recorded two hits. Adrian Arechiga stole two bases and Mestas stole one.

Game Two: NNU 19, CWU 5

Game two was all NNU from the start. Scoring seven runs in the first two innings, it seemed as if the hosts were set up to run away with it. Carter Walsh set the tone with a first inning triple and Brubaker scored Walsh with a sacrifice fly to center field. The Nighthawks then scored six runs on seven hits in the second. Another leadoff triple, this time from Caleb Boswell, another sacrifice fly off the bat of Herrera scored the second run for NNU. With one run scored in the inning and two outs, Carter Walshed smashed another triple, his second in as many innings to start the rally. Brubaker singled to score Walsh and Karpstein singled to advance Brubaker to third. Becker his the third single in a row for the Nighthawks and scored Brubaker from third. After the a CWU pitching change, Kyle Becker stole second and Parker Sobiesiak singled to score both Becker and Karpstein. Arechiga legged out an infield single but an error allowed Sobiesiak to score the seventh run of the inning. 

Corbin Talley cruised through the first three inning, only giving up one hit and facing two over the minimum. The Wildcats rallied and plated four runs in the top of the inning to give Talley his first test in quite some time. With a 7-4 lead, Talley was able to get Hernandez to fly out to right and great throw cut the runner down at third trying to tag. 

NNU erupted for 12 runs on hits in the bottom of the fourth to put it out of reach. Tate Lewis capped off the big inning with a two-run homer to give the Nighthawks a 19-4 lead. With most of the bench in the game for NNU, Jett Hamilton recorded his first hit in his collegiate career with a triple to right center. CWU was able to get a fifth run in the sixth inning but the deficit was too much to overcome.

Corbin Talley (W, 10-0) had another great outing pitched 6.0 innings giving up five runs with eight strikeouts. Adam Brooks entered in the final frame and only gave up one hit with a strikeout. The Nighthawks recorded 10 extra-base hits headlined by two triples from Walsh and triples from Hamilton and Boswell. Tate Lewis had the lone homer for NNU

NNU is now 33-15 overall and 23-7 in GNAC play. They will finish the regular season tomorrow against CWU before they begin the GNAC Tournament next Thursday and Friday.  Read Full Article