NAMPA, Idaho – Another top of the line start by
Clark Streby, and an extra inning home run by
Ryne Oshiro lifted the Saints to a doubleheader split over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday.
Streby went seven strong innings, allowing three runs, two earned before a ninth inning rally by the Nighthawks tied the game. Oshiro collected his first collegiate home run with the go-ahead solo blast in the top of the tenth. In the second game, Northwest Nazarene jumped on the Saints for 10 early runs; however, Oshiro put the Saints on the board with a three-run home run but the effort was not enough as SMU fell 10-4.
The Nighthawks (11-21, 9-13) got on the board early, scoring a run in the first and third inning to take a 2-0 lead. In the fourth, an error by NNU allowed
Micah McNicoll to score the first run of the game for the Saints (5-25, 4-18). Oshiro and
Steven Sordahl followed it up with RBI singles up the middle to put SMU on top 3-2.
Northwest Nazarene tied the game in the fourth inning with a double down the right field line. However, NNU gave up the lead in sixth on another error, scoring one run. The Nighthawks sent the game into extra innings with a RBI groundout. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Oshiro drove a ball to right field for a solo home run and the eventual 5-4 win.
Streby went seven innings , giving up the three runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts before
Luke Hare pitched a clean eighth with strikeouts.
Ryan Dorney (1-4) got his first win of the season after throwing the final two innings, giving up one run and punching out one.
In the second bill, Northwest Nazarene wasted no time getting to Saints' starter
Aaron Shoup (0-5), scoring eight runs in three innings off him.
Zach Robinson came in for relief in the fourth, giving up two runs but settled down and punched out three over two innings.
Adam Eskil pitched the final inning.
Oshiro wasted no time picking up his second career home run, connecting on a pitch to right field again, this time a three-run home run in the fifth inning. The Saints managed to load the bases with no outs; however, Northwest Nazarene limited the damage to one run with a groundball and doubleplay. NNU cruised to a 10-4 victory in seven innings.
The Saints and Nighthawks face off for the series finale doubleheader on Friday at 12:00 p.m. PST. Live stats and video of the games will be available with links on smusaints.com.
