Kizer pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, one walk, and two runs while striking out three batters. He set down the first 13 Nevada batters in order before Nick Melino singled to left-center field with one out in the fifth inning, with Brian Barnett following with a double to right-center field that scored Melino to break up the shutout.
While Kizer was holding the Wolf Pack at bay, SeattleU took the lead in the first inning as Doug Buser (Orinda, Calif.) reached on an error by Garrett Yrigoyen and Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.) hit his third home run of the season. The Redhawks increased their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning when Bryndon Ecklund (Montesano, Wash.) singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Skip Spencer (Springfield, Ore.), who eventually scored his own run on a single by Buser.
In the seventh inning, after Nevada cut the Redhawk lead to 4-2, Buser again reached on an error, this time on Kevin Rodland. The senior earned his third stolen base of the night, advanced to third on a groundout to the right side by Hendrickson, and scored on a single by Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) to bring SeattleU's lead back to three runs at 5-2.
Nevada (18-13-1) began its comeback in the eighth inning when Shaun Kort walked and Brock Stassi singled to put runners on first and second with one out. Melino's single drove in Kort, and Barnett followed with a single that scored Stassi. Max Whieldon (Trabuco Hills, Calif.) came on in relief of Conor Spink (Eagle River, Alaska) and forced back-to-back popups to end the inning with the Redhawks still ahead, 5-4.
Waylen Sing Chow led off the ninth inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rodland. Westley Moss's grounder to the left side eluded Kalalau and went into left field, putting runners on second and third with one out. Kort launched a bloop single into left field to score both Sing Chow and Moss and put the Wolf Pack ahead for the first time in the game.
Joey Pulitano (Lake Stevens, Wash.) replaced Whieldon and walked Stassi, but forced Melino to fly out for the second out of the inning. Barnett sent a single to left field that scored both Kort and Stassi, and walks to Cullen Mahoney and Nick Leid loaded the bases. Eric Yardley (Richland, Wash.) attempted to stop further damage, but a wild pitch scored Barnett, Sing Chow drove in Mahoney with a single, and Leid scored on another wild pitch.
Back-to-back walks to Hendrickson and Kalalau put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Nevada reliever Jayson McClaren struck out Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) and forced Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) to fly out to end the game. After starter Jeremy Cole gave up four runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings, Beau Witsoe pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits, one walk, and one unearned run with four strikeouts to pick up the victory.
Ecklund continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with a run scored to improve to 9-for-13 in his last three games (.692) with a home run, four runs scored, five runs batted in, and three stolen bases. Buser went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in. Melino and Barnett each went 3-for-5 to lead the Wolf Pack, while Stassi finished the night 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Seattle University (4-24) will look to bounce back Saturday, April 17, against Nevada beginning at 2 p.m. at Bannerwood Park. With Whieldon throwing 23 pitches, he has been scratched from his scheduled start Saturday, but a replacement has not yet been named by SeattleU. Chris Garcia is scheduled to get the start for Nevada. Live stats and live audio will be available on GoSeattleU.com.