NAMPA, Idaho. – The Central Washington University baseball team dropped the first doubleheader of its series against Northwest Nazarene at Elmore W. Vail Field, by scores of the 2-7 and 5-19, respectively.
INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Game 1
Final: Central Washington (2), RV Northwest Nazarene (7)
Records: CWU (18-23, 15-14 GNAC), NNU (32-15, 22-7 GNAC)
Game 2
Final: Central Washington (5), RV Northwest Nazarene (19)
Records: CWU (18-24, 15-15 GNAC), NNU (33-15, 23-7 GNAC)
Location: Elmore W. Vail Field, Nampa, Idaho.
GAME 1:
SCORING:
- Northwest Nazarene struck early in the bottom of the first inning as the Nighthawks took advantage of three CWU errors to score four unearned runs and grab a 4-0 lead.
- The Wildcats broke through in the fifth inning when Conrad Henkel doubled down the right‑field line, driving in two runs as Central trimmed the deficit to 4-2.
- The Nighthawks answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth when Kaleb Karpstein singled through the right side to score Gavin Brubaker and pushed the margin to 5-2.
- Northwest Nazarene added insurance runs in the sixth inning on an RBI bunt single by Carter Walsh and later held the 'Cats scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 7-2 win.
HITTING:
- Three Wildcats recorded a hit and all three were involved in the only scoring play of the game for CWU with Conrad Henkel recording an RBI, while Kellen Berg and Ethan Swenson each scored a run.
- The Wildcats reached base three times by hits and walks.
- Eight Nighthawks reach base once while Gavin Brubaker, Kaleb Karpstein, and Jake Mestas recorded two hits each. Brubaker, Karpstein, Carter Walsh, Kyle Becker, Parker Sobiesiak, and Liam Herrera each recorded an RBI.
- The Nighthawks reached base 11 times by hits and walks.
PITCHING:
- Austin Cupic pitched 6.1 innings allowing seven runs, 10 hits, and striking out three of the 31 batters he faced.
- Braeden Fagnant pitched 1.2 innings allowing zero runs, one hit, and striking out one of the six batters he faced.
- Dillon Eden pitched nine innings for the Nighthawks allowing two runs, three hits, and striking out five of the 30 batters he faced.
GAME 2:
SCORING:
- Northwest Nazarene opened the scoring in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Gavin Brubaker, plating Carter Walsh and giving the Nighthawks a 1-0 advantage.
- The Nighthawks erupted for six runs in the second inning behind RBI hits from Brubaker, Kyle Becker and Parker Sobiesiak to quickly build a 7-0 lead.
- Central responded in the fourth inning with a four‑run rally highlighted by a two‑RBI single from Conrad Henkel, cutting the deficit to 7-4.
- Northwest Nazarene answered with a decisive 12‑run fourth inning, fueled by multiple extra‑base hits and a two‑run home run from Tate Lewis, to blow the game wide open at 19-4.
- Henkel added a solo home run in the sixth inning for the Wildcats, but the Nighthawks closed out the contest without any further damage to complete the 19-5 victory.
HITTING:
- Conrad Henkel led the 'Cats with three RBIs, two hits, while scoring a run.
- Kellen Berg and Ethan Swenson each recorded an RBI, a hit, and scored a run.
- Ethan Buckley recorded two hits and scored a run, while Jonathan Rominger recorded the only other hit in the lineup.
- Andre Garza scored a run as well while being walked once, while Henkel and Cam Costello recorded a walk each.
- The Wildcats reached base 10 times by hits and walks.
- NNU recorded 18 total RBIs, led by Gavin Brubaker with four, while Caleb Boswell, Liam Herrera, and Tate Lewis each recorded three RBIs.
- The Nighthawks reached base 25 times by hits and walks.
PITCHING:
- Garet Hagy pitched 1.2 innings allowing six runs, six hits, while facing 13 batters.
- Lance Mittelman pitched 0.1 innings allowing one run, two hits, while facing three batters.
- Logan Thompson pitched 1.1 innings allowing three runs, four hits, while facing 10 batters.
- Gino Trippy Jr. pitched 0.1 innings allowing five runs, three hits, and striking out one of the six batters he faced.
- Drake Anderson faced four batters allowing four runs and four hits.
- Kaden Haffner pitched 1.1 innings allowing zero runs, one hit, and striking out one of the five batters he faced.
- Corbin Talley pitched six innings for the Nighthawks allowing five runs, six hits, and striking out eight of the 26 batters he faced.
- Adam Brooks pitched one innings for the Nighthawks allowing zero runs, one hit, and striking out one of the four batters he faced.
SERIES HISTORY:
- Central trails the all-time series 88-105.
- The Wildcats are 32-61 in Nampa against the Nighthawks.
- NNU holds a 99-83 conference record over the 'Cats.
UP NEXT:
Both teams play tomorrow for the final doubleheader of the regular season with first pitches from Elmore W. Vail Field scheduled for noon and 3:00 p.m. PDT.
