The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (11-21) took one of four games
in its NJCAA Region II series against Western Oklahoma State College over the weekend,
dropping 12-4 and 10-4 decisions Saturday and avenging a 7-2 loss with a 5-3 victory
Sunday.
Held to four runs on six hits, NPC struggled to match the Pioneers, offensively, in
the series opener. Trailing, 3-0, entering the bottom of the third inning, the Nighthawks
got on the board on a solo home run from sophomore third baseman Jesus Minjarez (Chihuahua,
Mexico). NPC added another run in the fourth on an RBI sacrifice fly from freshman
right fielder Pedro Martinez (Cleburne, Texas), to cut the lead in half, 4-2.
A four-run fifth inning proved to be enough for Western Oklahoma State College to
cruise to victory. NPC added an RBI sacrifice fly from freshman center fielder Jimbo
Batchelor (Senoia, Georgia) in the sixth inning and a leadoff solo home run from freshman
first baseman Luke Hindman (Little Rock) in the seventh inning but could not turn
the tide in defeat.
Sophomore pitcher Myles Anderson (Houston, Texas) allowed three runs on four hits
with one strikeout over two and one-third innings. Hindman and sophomore designated
hitter Daeton Bassett (Fountain Lake) led NPC at the plate, finishing with two hits
apiece in the loss.
A one-run ballgame got away from the Nighthawks in game two, with the Pioneers padding
a 3-2 lead with four runs in the fourth inning. After Western Oklahoma State College
took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, NPC responded with RBI doubles from
Bassett and freshman shortstop Bryson Sellier (Houston, Texas) to pull within one
run, 3-2, in the bottom of the first. After the Pioneers’ big fourth inning, however,
NPC struggled to get runs across until the seventh inning, when sophomore designated
hitter Cameron Tyson (Cullen, Louisiana) added an RBI double, followed by an RBI single
from Bassett to cut the deficit to 7-4. A three-run Pioneer ninth inning spoiled NPC’s
chances at a rally, resulting in the 10-4 defeat.
Sophomore pitcher Eli Hutcherson (Cabot) got the start for NPC, allowing seven runs
on seven hits over three and one third innings, striking out two. Freshman reliever
Isaac House (Mountain Home) threw five and two-thirds innings in relief out of the
bullpen. Bassett led the Nighthawks at the plate, finishing three-for-five in the
loss.
NPC dropped a heartbreaker in Sunday’s opener, with the Pioneers breaking a two-two
tie in the ninth inning with five runs across. NPC grabbed the lead in the bottom
of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Tyson. After Western Oklahoma State College
evened the score in the fifth inning, the Nighthawks regained the lead in the bottom
of the frame as Hindman scored on a balk. The Pioneers tied the game at two in the
sixth inning, which held until the deciding five-run ninth inning.
Sophomore hurler Jaden Lewis (Tyler, Texas) got the start for NPC, allowing two runs
on seven hits with three strikeouts over five and two-thirds innings. Sophomore reliever
Jeb Brown (Rogers) took the loss in relief, allowing four runs on four hits with two
strikeouts. Hindman, Sellier, Martinez, freshman center fielder Hunter Guill (Bentonville)
and sophomore left fielder Evan Shoffit (Fayetteville) each managed one hit for NPC
in the loss.
The Nighthawks bounced back in the series finale. Shoffit started the scoring with
an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. In the second inning, Sellier knocked
a three-run homer, followed by an RBI single from Bassett to pad the lead for good.
The Pioneers added three runs across the fourth and fifth innings, but could not complete
the comeback.
Sophomore pitcher Josh Beezley (Sydney, Australia) got the complete game win for NPC,
allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in seven innings. Bassett led
NPC at the plate with two hits in three at bats.
NPC continues NJCAA Region II play this weekend with a four-game series against Northern
Oklahoma College-Tonkawa at Majestic Park. The Nighthawks and Mavericks play double
headers Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8, beginning at 1 p.m. Friday’s games
will be streamed live on the Nighthawk Network.
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
