Nighthawks Baseball Splits With Reddies
The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team split its series with Henderson State University Monday, dropping the first game, 13-8, while winning the second game, 10-0.
In game one, Nighthawk pitcher Matthew Herron (Mountain Pine) struggled early through 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on two hits. Trailing, 7-0, in the third inning, NPC received an offensive boost behind an RBI single from Kade Stuart (Lonoke) and a three-run home run from Jesus Minjarez (Hot Springs Lakeside) to cut the deficit to three runs. In the fourth inning, however, Henderson State University answered with back-to-back home runs to extend the lead.
Trailing, 12-4, in the sixth inning, NPC rallied for four runs with RBI from Demias Jimerson (Malvern), Stuart and Minjarez, but could not complete the comeback.
Stuart batted 3-4 for the day with two RBI and one run scored. Minjarez finished 1-4 with a three-run home run and four-total RBI. Nighthawk Mason Sellers (Genoa Central) batted .500, while Herron earned his first loss of the season.
In the second game, NPC turned the tables early, plating six runs in the first inning and utilizing strong pitching from Nighthawk Bradley Bearden (Ashdown) to keep the Reddies off the bases.
NPC added four runs in the third inning and rallied behind Bearden to take the win in five innings.
Nighthawk Nathan Kirkpatrick (Sheridan) finished 3-3 with a home run and four RBI. Stuart batted .500 for the game with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Bearden earned the complete game shutout with eight strikeouts in five innings of work.
Nighthawks baseball plays host to Crowley’s Ridge College Monday, Feb. 17 for a double header beginning at 12 p.m. Nighthawks softball plays host to Eastern Oklahoma State College Wednesday, Feb. 19 for a double header beginning at 3:00 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.
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Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
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