Northwest Nazarene Fall Report: Depth, Power, and the Evolution of a Superpower

Coming off the most successful campaign in program history, the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks enter the 2026 season with the burden of expectation and the excitement of a new challenge. The 2025 season was a masterclass in dominance, as the squad shattered the program record for wins with a 46-16 finish, including a 27-5 mark to secure first place in the GNAC. The accolades flowed as freely as the wins, with the Nighthawks capturing both the GNAC Regular Season and Tournament titles before storming through the postseason to become West Regional Champions and reach the National Tournament Semifinals. It marked the first-ever 40-win season in school history and the third time in the last five years the program has swept the conference hardware.

At the helm remains Head Coach Joe Schaefer, now entering his eighth season in Nampa. With a career record of 205-124-1 (.623) at NNU, Schaefer has transformed the Nighthawks into a perennial regional power, boasting four regional appearances and two World Series trips during his tenure. While the 2025 squad finished ranked No. 3 in the country, the page has turned. Schaefer notes that while this year's group may lack the raw top-end talent of the previous roster, they possess superior depth and athleticism. The narrative for 2026 is one of reinvention, as a mix of battle-tested returners and high-impact transfers look to write their own story while chasing the same ultimate goal: Cary.

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The Offense

The offensive production returns at a clip of 45.1%, giving the coaching staff a solid foundation to build upon despite significant exits. Leading the returning core is first baseman Kaleb Karpstein, a Redshirt Senior who served as a relentless force at the plate last spring. In 180 ABs, Karpstein hit .383 with 12 doubles, 5 home runs, and 42 RBI, earning First Team all-GNAC honors and finishing as the conference batting champion. His consistency is unmatched, providing a steady heartbeat in the middle of the order.

Joining him is the versatile Gavin Brubaker, who transitions from second base to shortstop this season. A Second Team all-GNAC selection, Brubaker proved his worth with the bat, logging 207 ABs and hitting .300 with 4 home runs and 33 RBI. The outfield also retains experience in Adrian Arechiga and Carter Walsh. Arechiga, a Redshirt Senior and Honorable Mention all-GNAC selection, brings pop to the lineup; in 202 ABs he hit .312 with 5 home runs and 50 RBI. Meanwhile, Walsh provides elite defense in center field, regarded as one of the best in the West Region, and chipped in offensively, where in 181 ABs he hit .276 with 4 home runs and 25 RBI.

To offset the lost production, the Nighthawks have dipped heavily into the transfer portal. Coleman Parry, a Junior transfer from Miles CC, arrives with eye-popping credentials. In 175 at-bats last season, Parry slashed .423/.541/.743 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, and 61 RBI, instantly injecting power potential into the DH or first base role. Another key addition is Parker Sobiesiak, an outfielder from Riverside CC who in 114 at-bats hit .351 with 10 extra-base hits and 29 RBI. Behind the dish, Senior transfer Tate Lewis joins from D1 Southern Illinois, where he hit .303 in limited action, alongside Mason Leavitt, a Redshirt Junior returning from a mission trip who was previously a First Team all-GNAC selection in 2023 with a .343 average. The depth is further bolstered by Max Paterson, a transfer from Everett CC who brings speed and contact after hitting .381 with 13 stolen bases last year.

The Pitching Staff

The pitching staff faces the steepest renovation, returning just 32.6% of its innings from the World Series run. However, the cupboard is far from bare. The bullpen projects to be a major strength, anchored by Wade Duncan. The Redshirt Junior earned Honorable Mention all-GNAC honors last year, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.93 ERA in 27.2 IP across 18 appearances, striking out nearly 32 percent of batters he faced (best amongst GNAC relievers last season). He is joined by Landen Parker, a Senior who will compete for a rotation spot after a workload that saw him post a 3-5 record with a 5.46 ERA in 57.2 IP. Gavin Brubaker will also see his role expand significantly on the mound, acting as a true two-way threat.

The rotation will likely feature several high-ceiling newcomers. Corbin Talley, a lefty transfer from D1 Northwestern State, brings experience after throwing 13.2 innings with a 3.95 ERA last spring. He is joined by Hayden Crews, a transfer from Fresno State who pitched 24 innings at the D1 level, and Myles Anderson from Utah Valley, who missed last season due to injury but is expected to be an impact arm. Hawk Hill, a transfer from the now-defunct Sonoma State program, adds immediate stability; he was Sonoma's top reliever, posting a 3.49 ERA over 28.1 innings. Kyle Becker, a transfer from Nevada, also joins the mix, offering two-way potential. Returning arms like Dillon Eden (7.56 ERA in 16.2 IP) and Tyler Stolfich (6.66 ERA in 25.2 IP) will be asked to step up and provide valuable innings as the staff sorts out its hierarchy.

Key Departures

The Nighthawks bid farewell to a legendary senior class that defined the program's recent golden era. The most significant loss is Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, the D2 Baseball Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-American, who went 13-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 103 strikeouts before transferring to the University of Florida. Also departing is Cole Calnon, the D2 Baseball Two-Way Player of the Year and First Team All-American, who went 12-0 on the mound and has since joined the NNU coaching staff. The lineup loses the thump of Nin Burns II, a First Team all-GNAC outfielder who hit .339 with 15 home runs and is now at UNLV, as well as Cris Enriquez (First Team all-GNAC, .296 BA, 8 HR) and Bryan Rojas (First Team all-GNAC, .360 BA, 10 HR),. Left-hander Jonathan Zayas (Second Team all-GNAC) also graduated, leaving a massive void in the staff.

Schedule & Outlook

The road to a repeat begins early, with the season opener scheduled for January 30, 2026, in Irvine, California, against Concordia University Irvine. Following the opening series, the Nighthawks travel to face Azusa Pacific and Cal State Los Angeles, a team that finished 26-25 in 2025 with a CCAA Tournament appearance. The marquee non-conference matchup arrives in mid-February with a four-game set against Cal State Monterey Bay, the team they beat to advance to the World Series.

Conference play begins at home in Nampa on February 27 against Western Oregon, a team that finished 18-26 last year. The home stand continues in March against Colorado State Pueblo, a strong RMAC contender that went 32-20 with a tournament appearance in 2025. The GNAC grind also includes key series against Montana State Billings, who finished 33-22 last season and earned a West Regional berth, and Saint Martin's. The regular season concludes in early May against Central Washington (25-26 in 2025), leading directly into the GNAC Championships in Nampa. With a reloaded roster and a schedule packed with regional heavyweights, Northwest Nazarene is poised to prove that 2025 was not a peak, but a new standard. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball