The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (15-30) fell to Henderson State University’s junior varsity team (HSU) Monday, 12-11.
In a back-and-forth ballgame that required extra innings to complete, HSU edged the Nighthawks late in a thriller. Trailing, 1-0, entering the third inning, NPC tied the game on an RBI single from sophomore designated hitter D’Angelo Hinojosa (Houston, Texas). After the Reddies regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Nighthawks knotted the game in the fifth inning, 2-2, with sophomore catcher Corbin Montayne (Frisco, Texas) scoring on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. HSU answered with a two-run fifth inning to pull back ahead. Hinojosa smacked an RBI double in the sixth inning to pull within one run, 4-3.
NPC gained its first lead of the ballgame in the seventh inning, plating five runs. Sophomore second baseman Cameron Tyson (Cullen, Louisiana) started the scoring with an RBI single, followed by freshman shortstop Bryson Sellier (Houston, Texas) scoring on a passed ball. Later in the inning, Hinojosa doubled in another run, followed by an RBI triple from freshman right fielder Jimbo Batchelor (Senoia, Georgia) and an RBI single from freshman first baseman Luke Hindman (Little Rock).
The Nighthawks’ lead would be short-lived, however, as HSU responded with five runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh inning, regaining the lead. With an RBI single from Tyson and a bases-loaded walk from Batchelor, NPC pulled ahead in the eighth inning, 10-9, but would once again lose the lead in the bottom of the frame with HSU scoring twice. In the top of the ninth inning, NPC tied the game, 11-11 on an RBI fielder’s choice from freshman center fielder Hunter Guill (Bentonville) and held the Reddies at bay, defensively, to force extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th inning, HSU scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch to claim victory.
Sophomore pitcher Eli Hutcherson (Cabot) got the start for NPC, allowing four runs on four hits over six innings, striking out seven. Hinojosa led the Nighthawks at the plate, finishing five-for-six and setting NPC’s single-game hits record in the loss.
NPC continues NJCAA Region II play with a four-game series at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid this weekend. The Nighthawks and Jets square off for a double header Saturday, April 29, beginning at 4 p.m. followed by a double header Sunday, April 30, beginning at 1 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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Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
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