NAMPA, Idaho—Opening the final weekend of the regular season, Western Oregon settled for a Thursday split, 9-5 and 8-10, while playing at Northwest Nazarene University.  

Western Oregon (23-19, 23-15 GNAC) and Northwest Nazarene (18-30, 16-22 GNAC) will close out the regular season on Friday with a 12 p.m. (PST) doubleheader. With two games remaining, the Nighthawks trail Concordia by one game for the fourth and final spot in the GNAC championships. 

With the win, WOU clinched the No. 2 seed in the GNAC Tournament. Central Washington, the No. 3 seed, will host the four-team tournament next week in Ellensburg on May 9-11.

Game 1: Western Oregon def. Northwest Nazarene, 9-5

The Wolves belted 15 hits, including home runs by Jared McDonald and Koty Fallon, to defeat Northwest Nazarene, 9-5, in the series opener on Thursday. 

Western Oregon scored eight unanswered runs to start the game, including six in the top of the 2nd frame, for starter Connor McCord.

McCord tossed a full seven innings to earn the win and added two RBI while going 2-for-5 at the plate.

Jacob Martinez had a 3-for-6 game that included two runs while McDonald registered four of the team's RBI. 

Game 2: Western Oregon def. Northwest Nazarene, 10-8

Sending 11 batters to the plate, Northwest Nazarene tagged Western Oregon for eight runs in the 3rd inning before holding on for a 10-8 win in the nightcap on Thursday.

On the first pitch of the game, WOU's Jacob Martinez opened the game with a solo homer to left first. Later in the inning, Connor McCord singled in Jay Leverett for the second run of frame.

NNU, however, handed starter Greg Casper the big lead two innings later as the team drew three walks in addition to four hits for the 8-2 advantage.

The Wolves outhit the Nighthawks 10 to 8 and score six runs over the final three innings to cut into the deficit and make it a two-run contest. 

Martinez led WOU at the plate with a 3-for-4 line with three RBI.