D2Baseball and the NCBWA each ranked NNU inside their respective polls this week.
No. 9 by D2Baseball, No. 10 by NCWA
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) recently unveiled their Week Three rankings for Division II baseball. Northwest Nazarene (10-2-1) rose 9 spots, from last weeks rankings, to reach 10th in the country. This marks their highest position since 2021 when they finished 6th after advancing to the DII College World Series. D2Baseball also released their updated weekly poll, with the Nighthawks finding themselves at number 9. The significant rise comes on the heels of an impressive 3-1 series victory against No. 12 Colorado Mesa last weekend.
After spent the opening week of the season battling ranked teams, and the weather, in California, the Nighthawks opened against #21 Point Loma. Even after scheduling and venue changes, they still were only able to play two games of the scheduled four-game series. NNU split those two games before having a single game at Concordia cancelled. The opening game against Stanislaus State was also cancelled, making it a three-game series. Northwest Nazarene would win the first two games against Stan State. In game three, they battled to a 12-12 tie, a game that was called due to flight time.
The Nighthawks would return home to host, and sweep, the College of Idaho Coyotes (NAIA) in four games. The following weekend, NNU would go down to Colorado and take three of four from #12 Colorado Mesa. This series was fun one where three of the four games were decided by two runs or less.
Key Contributors
The Nighthawks key contributors at the plate so far this season have been Kailer Saunders (.371, 3 2B, 1 HR), Manny Casillas (.367, 4 2B, 3 HR), Duke Pahukoa (.333, 1 2B, 2 HR), Kaleb Karpstein (.314, 4 2B, 2 HR), and Cole Calnon (.306, 1 2B, 1 3B).
On the mound, starters Kyle Ethridge (3 GS, 1CG, 1-1, 1.83 ERA, 0.71 WHIP) and Jonathan Zayas (4 GS, 1-0, 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) have been outstanding. Adam Brooks (3 APP, 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) and Wade Duncan (7 APP, 3-0, 3 SV, 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) have both been dealing out of the bullpen. Cole Calnon (3 APP, 1 GS, 1 SV, 2-0, 3.63 ERA, 0.81 WHIP) and Kailer Saunders (4 APP, 2 GS, 1-0, 4.05 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) have both been great in both roles, and at the dish (see above), for NNU.
GNAC play begins this weekend for the Nighthawks as they take on the defending champion Western Oregon Wolves.
