Thursday, May 27, 2021

NAMPA, Idaho – Baseball is a funny game.

Just when it looked like Northwest Nazarene was going to close the door on a one-run shutout victory over Western Oregon, the Wolves scored two runs in the ninth inning to win 2-1 in the opening game of the NCAA Division II West Regional on Thursday at Vail Baseball Field in Nampa, Idaho.

Senior outfielder Blayze Arcano led off the ninth inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop Derek Maiben. Junior outfielder Jacob Maiben reached on an infield throwing error and Arcano came around to score and tie the game.

Jacob Maiben scored the eventual game-winning run on a bases-loaded walk by senior second baseman Tyler Brandenburg. The Nighthawks walked four runners in the inning. Both runs for the Wolves were unearned.

Western Oregon senior Mike Peterson, the GNAC Pitcher of the Year, threw 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts as he took a no-decision. Fellow senior Seth Kuykendall improved to 3-0 on the season after picking up the win. Kuykendall allowed just one hit while striking out one in 2.1 innings before handing the ball to senior Alan Vasquez, who struck out two in the ninth to secure his third save of the season.

Brandenburg went 1 for 3 with the RBI walk while senior first baseman Connor McCord went 1 for 2 with a pair of walks, including an intentional walk in the ninth-inning rally.

The Wolves’ two-run ninth inning nullified an eight-inning gem by Northwest Nazarene freshman Kyle Ethridge. He allowed one unearned run on four hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts. The 12 K’s tied a season-high as Ethridge reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season. He leads the conference with 86 strikeouts.

Junior reliever Max Holtzclaw took the loss, allowing an unearned run with three walks and two strikeouts in just two-thirds of an inning.

Northwest Nazarene struck first in the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Colton Moore doubled down the right-field line and then scored the Nighthawks’ only run on an RBI single to left by junior designated hitter Alex Salsman.

Northwest Nazarene (31-8, 21-3 GNAC) will look to avoid elimination as the Nighthawks play top-seeded Azusa Pacific in game two of the West Regional. Western Oregon (21-6, 19-5 GNAC) has won nine straight games and will await the result of game two for its next opponent. First pitch for game three is scheduled for noon on Friday.