NAMPA, Idaho --- The Western Oregon baseball team split a doubleheader with Northwest Nazarene, winning the first game 8-3 and dropping the second 11-7, to start a key four-game GNAC series Friday at Elmore W. Vail Field.

In game one of a series featuring the teams that occupy the top two spots in the GNAC standings, the first-place Wolves (16-10 overall, 10-6 GNAC) took an early lead on the Nighthawks (16-20, 10-8) thanks to a Curran Mitzel three-run homer in the first. WOU led 4-0 after a Collin Irwin RBI single in the fourth.

It was more than enough for WOU's Dylan Chalmers and Ryan Shipley as the duo held NNU to three runs on six hits. Chalmers got the start and gave up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks to move to 4-0 on the season. Shipley went the final three innings to pick up the save, giving up a run on two hits with three strikeouts.

Derek Maiben finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run, Mitzel was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI, Irwin finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, Justyn Herzog went 2-for-4 with two runs while AJ Cortese went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

In game two, WOU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a Jacob Maiben two-run homer - but the Nighthawks scored 10 runs over the next three innings to pull away.

Jacob Maiben finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, a homer and a double, Mitzel went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, John Oleson went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and Randy Stultz went 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBI, two runs and two walks. Chris Hardin got the loss, going three innings and giving up seven runs on six hits with a strikeout and four walks. Overall, WOU pitching walked 11 batters in the seven-inning game.

The two teams play another doubleheader Saturday starting at noon pacific time.