NPC Baseball Sweeps Vikings On Homecoming
The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (15-27, 9-7) swept its NJCAA
Region II series against Carl Albert State College (CASC) Thursday, taking a 15-11
victory in game one and winning, 6-5, in the finale.
In a high-scoring game one, NPC took a commanding lead early, plating eight runs in
the bottom of the first inning. The Nighthawks lit up the scoreboard with four bases-loaded
walks, an RBI sacrifice fly from freshman center fielder Hunter Guill (Bentonville),
an RBI double from freshman shortstop Bryson Sellier (Houston, Texas) and by taking
advantage of two defensive miscues to gain the advantage. NPC added its ninth run
of the game in the second inning, with sophomore right fielder Josh Beezley (Sydney,
Australia) smacking an RBI single.
CASC would not go away quietly, however, chipping away at the deficit with runs scored
in the following four innings to pull within one run, 9-8.
The Nighthawks padded their lead with six runs in the fifth inning, capitalized by
a grand slam from Beezley. With three runs scored in the top of the seventh inning
and multiple baserunners aboard, the Vikings threatened late, but sophomore reliever
Silas Cowgill (Texarkana) entered for the final two outs, securing the team’s victory
and earning his first career save.
Sophomore pitcher Jaden Lewis picked up the win for NPC, surrendering five runs on
five hits with four strikeouts over four innings. Cowgill earned the save, while Beezley
and Sellier finished with three hits apiece in the victory. With four walks in the
contest, sophomore left fielder Evan Shoffit became NPC’s single-season leader in
walks. Shoffit also holds the record for most walks all-time for National Park College.
A late rally from Carl Albert State College made things interesting in game two, with
NPC slamming the door on
the series win in the ninth inning.
After the Vikings took a one-run lead to start the ballgame, NPC evened the score
in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run from sophomore designated hitter
Daeton Bassett (Fountain Lake). The Nighthawks took the lead in the second inning
on an RBI double from sophomore third baseman Eli Hutcherson (Cabot) and took advantage
of a throwing error in the fourth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie with two runs across.
Scoring on an error in the fifth inning and adding a sixth-inning RBI single from
Shoffit, NPC padded its lead, 6-2. The Vikings would spark a comeback attempt late,
however, scoring one run in the seventh inning and two in the eighth inning bringing
the game within one run, 6-5, in a downpour at Majestic Park. Hutcherson entered in
relief for the final two innings, earning his first career save and securing the sweep
on homecoming.
Sophomore pitcher Myles Anderson (Houston, Texas) got the start for NPC, allowing
two runs on five hits over six innings. With seven strikeouts in the contest, Anderson
improved to second all-time in strikeouts for NPC, passing former Nighthawk Cole Rodriguez.
Hutcherson earned the save, while Hutcherson, Bassett, Shoffit, Guill, sophomore first
baseman Cameron Tyson (Cullen, Louisiana), sophomore second baseman John Satterfield
(Little Rock) and sophomore catcher Jesus Minjarez (Chihuahua, Mexico) led NPC at
the plate with one hit apiece in the win.
NPC travels to Carl Albert State College in an NJCAA Region II double header Saturday,
April 22, beginning at 1 p.m. The final home series of the season is scheduled for
Thursday, May 4 against University of Arkansas Rich Mountain, 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.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
