The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks baseball team split its NJCAA Region II
road series with Redlands Community College over the weekend, dropping 6-1 and 10-9
decisions on Saturday and earning 21-12 and 28-18 wins on Sunday.
A leadoff solo home run from NPC freshman Demias Jimerson (Malvern) in the first inning
was the only hit the Nighthawks mustered in game one, falling behind by six runs over
the first four innings and struggling against Cougars pitching in the loss. Freshman
hurler Cole Rodriguez (Cypress, TX) took the loss, surrendering six runs on eight
hits over three and two-thirds innings, striking out two. Freshman pitcher Andy Roberts
(Gosnell) threw two and one-third innings out of the bullpen.
Behind hot hitting from freshman Tristen Jamison (Nashville), Jesus Minjarez (Hot
Springs), Jared Harris (Houston, TX), CJ Price (Little Rock) and Ethan Cash (Maumelle),
NPC found its offense in game two, taking a 6-0 lead after three innings. Redlands
Community College tied things up with a six-run fourth inning. In the sixth inning,
NPC took an 8-6 lead behind a home run from freshman Panama H-Mendez (Miami, FL),
before adding another run in the eighth inning. Leading, 9-7, entering the bottom
of the ninth inning, the Cougars completed the comeback, plating three runs to steal
a 10-9 win.
Jamison finished four-for-five at the plate with a two-run first-inning home run to
lead the Nighthawks in hitting in the loss. Freshman hurler Kenly Anderson (Horatio)
got the start and surrendered six runs on four hits over three and two-thirds innings,
striking out three. Jamison and freshmen Jackson Pope (Sherwood) and Matthew Herron
(Mountain Pine) contributed in relief for NPC.
After falling behind, 2-0, in the first inning of game three on Sunday, NPC erupted
for 12 consecutive runs through the second, third and fourth innings. Leading, 12-3,
entering the fifth inning, NPC’s offensive prowess continued, plating three runs in
the fifth inning, four runs in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh inning
to thwart the Cougars’ comeback attempt and take a convincing 21-12 victory.
NPC socked eight home runs in the game with Jimerson and freshman Nathan Kirkpatrick
(Sheridan) homering in the second inning and Cash, Harris and freshman Brett Sweatman
(Manila) going yard in the third inning. Kirkpatrick knocked his second home run in
the fourth inning, while Jamison blasted round trippers in the fifth and seventh innings.
Harris, Jamison and Kirkpatrick each finished with three hits in the win. Kirkpatrick
recorded eight RBI, while Jamison and Cash each contributed four. Freshman Robby Caro
(Georgetown, TX) got the start for NPC, allowing eight runs on seven hits through
four innings, while striking out three.
In the series finale, NPC enjoyed its highest-scoring affair in school history. The
Nighthawks set the pace in the second inning with eight runs across, followed by five
runs in the third frame. Leading, 14-6, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Redlands
Community College pulled within one run, 14-13, behind a seven-run inning. NPC padded
its lead with four runs in the fifth inning. Leading, 19-18, after six innings, NPC
continued its offensive onslaught, plating five runs in the seventh inning and four
runs in the eighth inning to retire the Cougars by run rule for the series split.
NPC recorded 23 hits in the win, including five home runs. Jimerson and Sweatman went
deep in the second inning, followed by long balls from Kirkpatrick, freshman Darrin
Bedell Jr. (Scotlandville, LA) and Rodriguez in the third, fourth and eighth innings,
respectively.
Sweatman finished four-for-six at the plate to lead NPC in hitting while Jimerson,
H-Mendez, Jamison, Harris, Price, Cash and Rodriguez all recorded multiple hits. Sophomore
Mason Sellers (Texarkana) got the start for NPC, allowing three hits and six runs
over two and one-third innings, striking out one.
NPC plays host to Western Oklahoma State with a double header on Saturday, May 1 and
a double header on Sunday, May 2 at Hot Springs World Class High School. Each double
header begins at 1 p.m. The games will be livestreamed by XZero Sports at xzerosports.com.
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
