The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (12-24) took one of four games
in its NJCAA Region II series against Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa (NOC-Tonkawa)
over the weekend, with a 5-3 walk-off win and an 8-5 loss Friday and falling, 14-12
and 13-10, respectively, on Saturday.
A three-run walk-off home run propelled the Nighthawks to victory in the series opener.
After NPC took a 1-0 lead on an error in the third inning, the Mavericks answered
with two runs in the fourth inning and one in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning,
NPC chipped away at the deficit, with sophomore third baseman Jesus Minjarez (Chihuahua,
Mexico) smacking an RBI single. Trailing, 3-2, entering the bottom of the seventh
inning, NPC added two baserunners on a leadoff hit-by-pitch on freshman right fielder
Hunter Guill (Bentonville) and a base hit by freshman shortstop Bryson Sellier (Houston,
Texas). This set the stage for sophomore second baseman Cameron Tyson (Cullen, Louisiana),
who took a 1-0 count over the left field wall for the game-winning blast.
Sophomore pitcher Myles Anderson (Houston, Texas) allowed three runs on three hits
with three strikeouts over five innings. Freshman reliever Isaac House (Mountain Home)
picked up the win, allowing one hit with two strikeouts over two innings of work.
Sophomore designated hitter Daeton Bassett (Fountain Lake) led NPC at the plate, finishing
two-for-three in the win.
NOC-Tonkawa rallied from behind to even the series in game two. NPC grabbed a 3-0
lead early on an RBI double from Tyson and a two-run double from Minjarez in the third
inning. The Mavericks responded with eight unanswered runs over the next four innings,
taking the lead for good. Despite a two-run home run from freshman catcher Oscar Martinez
(Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Nighthawks couldn’t
overcome the deficit in defeat.
Sophomore pitcher Eli Hutcherson (Cabot) got the start for NPC, surrendering three
runs on five hits over four innings, striking out two. Guill led with three hits in
four at bats in the loss.
NPC dropped a heartbreaker in Saturday’s opener, losing the lead late. After a back-and-forth
ballgame early with multiple lead changes, NPC hit its groove in the fourth inning,
plating five runs. The Nighthawks added two additional runs in the fifth inning to
take a 12-5 advantage. The Mavericks mounted a comeback in the sixth inning, however,
plating seven runs to tie the game, 12-12. In the top of the seventh inning, NOC-Tonkawa’s
hot hitting continued, taking the game-deciding two-run lead with NPC unable to respond.
Sophomore hurler Jaden Lewis (Tyler, Texas) toed the rubber for NPC, allowing five
runs on six hits while striking out three over five innings. In the top of the fifth
inning, Lewis became NPC’s all-time strikeout leader, surpassing the record previously
held by Cole Rodriguez. Tyson led NPC at the plate, finishing three-for-five, including
two home runs, in the loss.
It took extra innings to decide Saturday’s series finale, with the Mavericks edging
the Nighthawks late. NPC lit up the scoreboard first on a two-run second inning home
run from freshman right fielder Evan Grissom (Mount Pleasant, Texas). After NOC-Tonkawa
cut the lead in half in the top of the third inning, NPC added insurance runs in the
bottom of the frame with an RBI double from Martinez, a bases-loaded walk and a RBI
sacrifice fly from Hutcherson. The Mavericks tied the game with a four-run fourth
inning before taking the lead with one run across in the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Sellier smacked a two-run single, followed by a
two-run homer from Tyson as NPC pulled ahead. The Mavericks did not go away quietly,
however, plating four runs over the final two innings to close the gap and regain
the lead. Trailing, 10-9, in the bottom of the ninth inning, NPC forced extra innings
with an RBI sacrifice fly from Guill. In the 10th inning, the Mavericks claimed the
series victory, plating an insurmountable three runs.
Sophomore pitcher Josh Beezley (Sydney, Australia) took the hill for NPC, allowing
six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts over six innings. Sophomore reliever Silas
Cowgill (Texarkana) threw four innings out of the bullpen. Sellier and Bassett led
NPC at the plate with two hits apiece in the loss.
NPC continues NJCAA Region II play this week with a home-and-home series against Southern
Arkansas University Tech. The Nighthawks and Rockets play a double header Thursday,
April 13, in Camden beginning at 1 p.m. before returning to Hot Springs for a double
header at Majestic Park Friday, April 14, beginning at noon.
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
