The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks baseball team bounced back in the NJCAA Region II Plains District Tournament on Tuesday, defeating Carl Albert State College, 14-13, in 10 innings.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning, NOC-Enid blew the game open in the fourth inning with a seven-run frame. Against stingy pitching from the Jets, NPC struggled to get on base throughout the contest, falling for the first time in the double-elimination tournament.
NPC got the scoring started in the first inning on a two-run home run from freshman Demias Jimerson (Malvern). Jimerson added to his team-leading homer total with a two-run shot in the second inning as well, allowing the Nighthawks to quickly build a 6-0 lead.
Leading, 10-2, after three innings, NPC appeared to be in cruise control. The Vikings rallied back over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, however, outscoring NPC, 10-1, to steal the lead, 12-11. The Nighthawks answered back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, regaining the lead, 13-12, on an RBI single from freshman Tristen Jamison (Nashville).
Carl Albert State College tied the game, 13-13, with a solo home run in the eighth inning and the teams remained deadlocked at the end of regulation. In the bottom of the tenth inning, NPC freshman Ethan Cash (Maumelle) hit an RBI single to score freshman Jesus Minjarez (Hot Springs) from second base, keeping the Nighthawks’ season alive in dramatic fashion.
Freshman pitcher Matthew Herron (Mountain Pine) allowed three runs on six hits over four and one-third innings in the start for NPC. Jamison picked up the win in relief, allowing one hit over three innings while striking out five. The Nighthawks tallied 11 hits in the win, with Jimerson, Jamison and freshman Jack Hackney (DeWitt) totaling two hits apiece.
NPC continues tournament play today at 11 a.m. versus Western Oklahoma State College.
The game will be streamed live by Bravado Wireless.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawks Baseball online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.
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Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
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