CALDWELL, Idaho – Andrew Helmstadter went 3-for-4, finishing a home run shy of the cycle, helping Northwest Nazarene even the season series with the College of Idaho, topping the Yotes, 3-2, this afternoon at Wolfe Field.
The Crusaders (15-15) were an out away from their fourth shutout of the year, but the Yotes nearly logged their 12th late inning comeback victory of the season.
Trailing 3-0 in the ninth, Jordan Grubbs led off with a single and moved to third on a one-out Cole Mansanerez single. A two-out walk to Zach Fabricius loaded the bases, with a Jake Hennessey infield single to third driving in a run, with Kaleb DeHaas overthrowing first base, allowing Mansanerez to score and pushing runners to second and third. Nick Strange buckled down, getting Troy Carr to line out to second to end the game, notching his first save.
NNU struck in the first, as Helmstadter doubled to right and scored on a Tyler Davis single. The Crusaders would add to their lead in the late innings – as a Helmstadter leadoff triple in the eighth led to a Jesse Hilyard RBI ground out, while in the ninth, Tucker Campbell delivered an RBI single after a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt.
Seven NNU pitchers held the Yotes (20-12) at bay – taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Grubbs broke up the bid with a line drive single to right. C of I did not have a runner reach third base until the ninth inning.
Jake Ferdinand picked up the win, tossing a scoreless fifth inning, with Strange going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Grubbs was 2-for-4 for the Yotes, with Russell Sweet taking the loss, despite allowing just one run over three innings. Brady Winfield tossed two shutout innings for C of I, striking out four.
The Yotes return to action on Saturday, hosting Simpson in an NAIA West doubleheader at 1 p.m.
