The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team took two of four games against
Arkansas Baptist College in the program’s historic debut this weekend at Hot Springs
World Class High School, defeating the Buffaloes 6-0 in the opener and falling, 3-2,
in the nightcap on Saturday, while dropping a 6-3 battle in the opener and claiming
a 3-1 victory in the nightcap on Sunday.
In the season debut, Nighthawk pitcher Matthew Herron (Mountain Pine) was dominant,
throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just two hits to earn a 6-0 complete-game
win. Nighthawks Jack Hackney (Dewitt) and Demias Jimerson (Malvern) finished 2-3 in
the game while Mason Sellers (Genoa Central) went 1-3 with three RBI in the win.
“These guys were ready to play,” Nighthawk head baseball coach Dillon Hargrove said.
“We’ve been practicing all fall and grinding it out and Matthew Herron had a lot to
do with that. He’s one of our more experienced guys on the squad and he showed that.
When adversity hits Matt he takes it well. He’s a veteran for our squad.”
In Saturday’s second game, NPC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and utilized
tight defense and strong pitching from Jacob Weems (Hazen) to maintain that advantage
through the majority of the game. Arkansas Baptist College found its groove in the
sixth inning, however, plating two runs and forcing Weems from the game in favor of
Kenley Anderson (Horatio). After the Buffaloes added a third run in the seventh inning,
NPC attempted a last-minute comeback, fueled by a seventh-inning home run from Jesus
Minjarez (Hot Springs Lakeside). However, it wasn’t enough for the Nighthawks to turn
the tide. Minjarez finished 2-4 with a home run while Jimerson went 2-3 with an RBI
in the loss.
In Sunday’s opener, Nighthawk pitcher Andy Roberts (Gosnell) struggled through 4
2/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and six total runs. In the sixth inning, NPC’s Sam South
(Owasso, Ok.) plated NPC’s first run, while Minjarez knocked a two-run home run in
the seventh to cut the deficit in half before ultimately falling to the Buffaloes.
Jimerson finished 2-3 in the loss, while Hackney, South and Isaac Rodriguez (Texarkana,
Tx.) batted .500 for the game.
In the final match of the weekend, NPC fell behind in the top of the first inning,
1-0, but cleaned up, defensively behind pitcher Bradley Bearden (Ashdown). Sellers
tied the game with a fourth-inning home run, while a sixth-inning two-RBI single from
Zac Melugin (Hot Springs Lakeside) put NPC up for good. Anderson picked up the win,
while Minjarez went 2-3 with Sellers and Melugin batting .500 for the game.
Nighthawks baseball returns to action Thursday, Feb. 6 at Lyon College in Batesville
for a double header, beginning at 12 p.m. Nighthawks softball opens its season Monday,
Feb. 3 on the road at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Oklahoma for a
double header beginning at 1 p.m.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawks Baseball and Nighthawks Softball online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media. Fans can
also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
