The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks baseball team dropped its NJCAA Region
II home series with No. 7-ranked Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) over the weekend,
dropping 10-6 and 5-3 decisions on Saturday and falling 10-0 and 9-5 on Sophomore
Night on Sunday.
Fueled by two first-inning home runs, WOSC jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game one. In
the bottom of the first inning, NPC answered with a solo home run from sophomore Panama
H-Mendez (Miami, FL) and a three-run blast from sophomore Cole Rodriguez (Cypress,
TX), to pull within one. Trailing, 8-5, entering the sixth inning, NPC added a solo
a home run from freshman Jesus Minjarez (Hot Springs), but could not overcome the
deficit, falling, 10-6, in seven innings.
Freshman pitcher Kenley Anderson (Horatio) took the loss, allowing five runs on four
hits over one inning, walking one. Freshmen pitchers Danny O’Donnell (Leander, TX)
and Matthew Herron (Mountain Pine) entered the game from the bullpen, throwing four
innings and two innings, respectively. Rodriguez and H-Mendez led the Nighthawks in
hitting with two apiece.
In game two, NPC stayed in it until the end, but WOSC pulled away late in a 5-3 victory.
Tied at three in the top of the ninth inning, the Pioneers knocked a two-run home
run, which proved to be the difference in the Nighthawks’ loss.
Sophomore pitcher Robby Caro (Georgetown, TX) got the start for NPC, allowing three
runs on four hits over seven innings, while striking out five. Sophomore Mason Sellers
(Texarkana) threw one inning in relief. Freshman Tristen Jamison (Nashville) finished
2-for-4 at the plate to lead NPC in hitting, while freshmen CJ Price (Little Rock)
and Nathan Kirkpatrick (Sheridan) added home runs in the fifth and sixth innings,
respectively, in the loss.
Before Sunday’s double header, NPC honored eleven student athletes—Jacob Squires (Bigelow),
Jared Harris (Tomball, TX), Andy Roberts (Gosnell), Darrin Bedell (Scotlandville,
LA), Bradley Bearden (Ashdown), Caro, Sellers, Jamison, Rodriguez, O’Donnell and H-Mendez,
for their outstanding contributions to Nighthawks baseball.
Rodriguez, Harris and Jamison were also recognized for their commitments to continuing
their baseball careers at the next level. Rodriguez committed to the University of
Toledo, while Harris and Jamison committed to Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Arkansas
State University, respectively.
Behind strong pitching, WOSC took charge early in Sunday’s opener, scoring seven unanswered
runs through the first three innings. NPC struggled at the plate, amassing just one
hit against the Pioneers in a 10-0 five-inning loss. Freshman hurler Jackson Pope
(Sherwood) allowed six runs on eight hits over two and a third innings, striking out
three, while freshman Jack Hackney (DeWitt) secured the lone hit in the Nighthawks’
defeat.
The series finale quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel with NPC’s Rodriguez excelling
early against the Pioneers—striking out four through the first two innings. After
allowing two runs in the first inning, NPC pulled within one on a solo home run from
freshman David Newsom (Sherwood) in the second inning.
In the fifth inning, each team plated two runs, with NPC adding a two-run home run
from Minjarez to keep within one run. WOSC pulled away in the sixth inning with three
runs and one run apiece in the seventh and ninth innings. A Minjarez solo home run
in the bottom of the ninth inning sparked an NPC comeback attempt, but the Nighthawks
were unable to complete the rally, falling 9-5.
Rodriguez allowed four runs on seven hits over four and two-thirds innings, striking
out eight in the loss. Jamison, Anderson and freshman Ty Jackson (Bauxite) each contributed
in relief for the Nighthawks. Kirkpatrick (Sheridan) went 3-for-5 at the plate to
lead NPC in hits, while Minjarez blasted two home runs in the loss.
NPC plays host to UA Rich Mountain with a double header on Thursday, May 6th beginning
at 12 p.m. at Cedar Mountain Boys & Girls Club in Hot Springs Village.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawks Baseball online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
