The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks baseball team (1-4) dropped its three-game series against No. 1 LSU Eunice over the weekend, falling 2-1 and 9-2 on Saturday and 9-4 on Sunday.
Despite holding the Bengals to one hit in the series opener, a two-run third inning was all that LSU Eunice needed in order to claim victory. NPC plated one run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the deficit in half, but was unable to steal the win late.
Freshmen Demias Jimerson (Malvern) and Daeton Bassett (Fountain Lake) and sophomore Jacori Hicks (Baton Rouge, LA) each tallied two hits in the loss. Freshman pitcher Payton Windham (Maud, TX) got the start for NPC, surrendering two runs on one hit with four strikeouts over four innings while freshman Jaden Lewis (Troup, TX) struck out two in one inning in relief.
In game two, LSU Eunice grabbed an early 3-0 lead through three innings. After Bassett knocked in freshman Jesus Minjarez (Hot Springs) to score NPC’s first run in the top of the fourth inning, LSU Eunice responded with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings to pad its lead. The Nighthawks plated a second run in the eighth inning, but could not rally from behind in the loss.
Freshman pitcher Ryan Farquharson (Heath, TX) got the start for NPC, allowing two runs over two-thirds of an inning.
In the series finale, NPC took control early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and adding an additional run in the top of the second inning. The Bengals would battle back, however, chipping away at the deficit and tying the game, 4-4, in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bengals plated five runs to secure the series sweep.
Freshman pitcher Zach Murphy (Sydney, Australia) got the start for NPC, allowing two runs on one hit with three strikeouts over four innings. Freshmen pitchers Matthew Herron (Mountain Pine), Eli Hutcherson (Cabot), Myles Anderson (League City, TX) and Kenley Anderson (Horatio) each had relief appearances in the loss.
The Nighthawks travel to USA Stadium in Millington, TN on Sunday, Feb. 13 to face Dyersburg State Community College at 12 p.m. and Lake Michigan College at 2:30 p.m.
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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