TURLOCK — Northwest Nazarene hit two two-run homers, but the Warriors created some baseball drama in the ninth before the visiting Nighthawks avoided a series sweep with an event-filled 10-8 decision on Saturday.

Haden Heller and Jesse Hilyard each belted two-run home runs while NNU capitalized on seven walks and four Stan State errors. Heller and Hilyard also came up key for the Nighthawks (2-1) in stopping Warrior rallies.

Ethan Utler went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs to lead the Warriors offense before Stanislaus dropped to 2-1 on the young season. Jack Large and Jarrett Veiga both doubled.

Trailing 10-7 in its final at bats, Stan State staged some ninth inning drama. John Holleran and Cody Kruip both reached base with singles and with one out, Andrew Renteria came up to the plate. On an 0-2 pitch, Renteria nearly tied the game. His towering drive to left was headed for the bleachers behind the low four-foot wall, but Heller reached back and turned it into a sac fly as Holleran scored.

Heller had provided a two-run homer in the seventh that broke a 6-6 tie. Hilyard, who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings for NNU, slammed a two-run shot to left in the ninth that turned out to be the final difference. Hilyard also earned the save in the game.

In all, Northwest Nazarene used six pitchers and walked eight Warriors with five strikeouts. 

Tyler Murphy started on the mound for Stan State and threw five innings. He gave up one earned run on four hits, struck out five and walked four in his first outing of the season.

The Warriors will travel to play Cal State L.A. for a three-game set starting on Saturday that won't count towards the conference standings. The teams meet again in late March in Turlock for a CCAA series.