HASTINGS, Neb. -- Offensive struggles continued for the Nebraska Wesleyan University baseball team on Thursday night as the Prairie Wolves dropped a pair of GPAC games at Hastings College in a crucial doubleheader at Duncan Field.  The Broncos shutout the Prairie Wolves 3-0 in game one, then rallied back to win 7-3 in the nightcap.

NWU has now lost four in a row and eight of their past nine games to drop to 10-24 overall and 6-12 in the conference to fall into last place in the league standings.  The Prairie Wolves now will need to win both games on Saturday at Doane College if they want any chance at making the 2015 GPAC Postseason Tournament.

Hastings knocked out NWU starting pitcher Jordan Haas out after just one inning the opening game.  The Broncos pounded out three hits and three runs in the bottom of the 1st inning to go up 3-0.

Those three runs would be the only runs of the entire game.  Caleb Thiessen came in as a relief pitcher and allowed just two hits in the final five innings while not giving up a run to give NWU a chance.

Offensively, the Prairie Wolves could not string together a threat or come up with a big hit.  They were shut out for the second consecutive game despite out hitting the Broncos seven to five.  The biggest threat for NWU came in the top of the 5th inning as Jordan Watteyne doubled and Connor Bool singled to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with just one out.  A fielder's choice got Watteyne out at home then a strikeout ended the inning.

Making his first start of the season, Micah Lockerby pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout baseball for Hastings.  Lockerby was the No. 5 starter for the Broncos but controlled the game with five strikeouts and no walks.

Connor Bool was the only NWU player with multiple hits as he went 2-3.  Watteyne had the only extra base hit with his double.

NWU finally ended their scoreless drought in the top of the 3rd inning in game two.  The Prairie Wolves had gone 18 straight innings without a run until Chase Powers came up with a big hit.  Powers lined a ball down the left field line for a 2-run double driving in Aaron Ochsner and Connor Bool.

The Prairie Wolves tacked on another run in the top of the 5th inning for a 3-run lead.  Sam Ayars walked to lead off the inning the stole a base, advanced on a passed ball and scored on a ground out from Jordan Watteyne.

With a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the 5th, things looked good for the Prairie Wolves as starting pitcher Jordyn Johnson was in control giving up only two hits through four. 

The bottom of the 5th was a never ending disaster inning that had a little bit of everything for the Prairie Wolves.  A hit batter started off the inning that saw NWU allow four hits, commit an error, have a runner reach base on a passed ball after a strikeout and have a balk.  All of that knocked Johnson out of the game allowing six total runs (three earned).

Hastings took a 6-3 lead and cruised from there.  Bronco pitcher Ryan Schrad entered the game with an ERA over 19 and had pitched just five innings all season.  However, he was in command of the NWU bats allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.  Schrad threw 141 pitches before being lifted in the 8th.  Andrew Kuta pitched the final 1 1/3 to complete his second straight game.

Matt Orozco was 2-4 for the Prairie Wolves, while Chase Powers had the other hit of the game for NWU.