The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk softball team (17-17) split its NJCAA Region
2 series against Carl Albert State College Saturday, taking a 10-7 victory in game
one and falling, 13-3, in the finale.
Behind 17 hits, NPC outlasted the Vikings to win game one. NPC started the scoring
in the bottom of the second inning, with freshman first baseman Jessica Suire (New
Iberia, Louisiana) and sophomore left fielder Reagan White (Carrollton, Texas) scoring
on a fielding error. After the Vikings tied the game with a two-run homer in the top
of the third inning, NPC answered with a two-run round tripper of its own from freshman
catcher Ryanne Lefford (Beebe) in the bottom of the frame to break the stalemate.
Carl Albert State College pulled within one run, 4-3, in the top of the fourth inning.
Unphased, NPC responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman right
fielder Karlee Marrall (Perryville) scored on a passed ball, sophomore shortstop Logan
Nies (Rockwall, Texas) drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Lefford smacked an RBI
single to put NPC in front, 7-3. Despite the deficit, the Vikings would not go away
quietly, scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull within one run,
7-6.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Nighthawks added two runs to their lead. Freshman
center fielder Tayler Southern (Winnsboro, Louisiana) drove in Marrall on an RBI sacrifice
fly, followed by an RBI double from Nies. The Vikings managed one last run in the
top of the sixth inning, followed by NPC’s final run of the game in the bottom of
the sixth inning, an RBI double from White.
Sophomore pitcher Cameron Person (Bonham, Texas) got the start for NPC, allowing six
runs on seven hits over four and one-third innings, striking out five. Suire led the
Nighthawks at the plate, finishing four-for-four in the win.
Despite a historic outing from Nies in game two, the Nighthawks were unable to overcome
an eight-run seventh inning from the Vikings in game two.
In the bottom of the first inning, Nies lit up the scoreboard with a solo homerun,
passing former Nighthawk Madalynn Thompson (Bryant) to become NPC’s all-time home
run leader. After the Vikings tied the game in the top of the second inning, NPC regained
the lead on a solo home run from sophomore first baseman Molly Poole (Monett, Missouri).
With two runs across in fifth and sixth innings, Carl Albert State College grabbed
the lead for good. NPC chipped away at the deficit with an RBI single from Suire in
the bottom of the sixth inning, but were unable to overcome the Vikings’ big seventh
inning in defeat.
Freshman hurler Gracie Fowler (Texarkana) started in the circle for the Nighthawks.
The righthander surrendered six runs on 10 hits over six and one-third innings, striking
out two. Nies led NPC at the plate, finishing two-for-four in the loss.
NPC travels to Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Thursday, April 18, for an
NJCAA Region 2 double header beginning at 2 p.m. The Nighthawks return home Saturday,
April 20, for Sophomore Day with a double header against Arkansas State University-Newport
beginning at 2 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.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
