Softball Splits With Mustangs

The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk softball team (4-10) split its home double header against Central Baptist College’s junior varsity team Tuesday, winning game one, 5-1, and falling, 9-1, in the finale.

Great pitching paved the way for NPC in the opener. The Nighthawks grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single from freshman center fielder Tayler Southern (Winnsboro, Louisiana) and padded the lead with a two-run single from sophomore catcher Gracie Redmon (Benton) in the bottom of the third inning. After Central Baptist College lit up the scoreboard with one run across in the fourth inning, NPC responded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to seal the win. Southern smacked a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, followed by an RBI single from freshman pinch hitter Kandyce Reed (Pangburn) in the sixth inning.

Freshman hurler Bailee Cowell (Clarksville) earned the win for National Park College. The right-handed pitcher gave up one run on five hits over six innings, striking out three. Sophomore reliever Cameron Person (Bonham, Texas) fired a scoreless seventh inning to collect her first save. Sophomore first baseman Katie Branch (Waco, Texas), freshman designated player Karlee Marrall (Perryville), Southern and sophomore left fielder Reagan White (Carrollton, Texas) led NPC at the plate, finishing with two hits apiece in the win.

A seven-run second inning helped Central Baptist College exact its revenge in game two. Following the big inning, NPC plated its lone run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI sacrifice fly from Branch. Held to just three total hits in the contest, the Nighthawks could not muster enough offense to complete the comeback in the series split.

Freshman pitcher Gracie Fowler (Texarkana) got the start for NPC, allowing seven runs on six hits with one strikeout over one and one-third innings. Reed and freshman Chloe Byte (Blanchard, Oklahoma) made relief appearances for the Nighthawks in the contest. At the plate, Cowell, sophomore second baseman Logan Nies (Rockwall, Texas) and Redmon collected one hit apiece in the loss.

NPC travels to North Arkansas College Saturday, March 2nd for a double header beginning at 1 p.m.

For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawk Athletics online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.

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Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
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