The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (5-5) split its series with University of Arkansas Rich Mountain (UA Rich Mountain) at Majestic Park Friday, with NPC earning a 4-2 victory in the opener and falling, 5-3, in the finale.
Game one was a pitcher’s duel, with sophomore hurler Bryan Raitz (Dallas, Texas) outlasting the Bucks’ pitching staff to notch his third victory of the season. The Nighthawks grabbed the lead the bottom of the first inning, with sophomore first baseman Josh Wacaser (Bentonville) driving in sophomore second baseman Que Walton (Atlanta, Georgia) on an RBI sacrifice fly. After the Bucks tied the game, 1-1, in the top of the third inning, NPC blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning on a three-run triple from sophomore right fielder Dylan Garcia (Rockwall, Texas). UA Rich Mountain attempted to mount a comeback, plating a run in the top of the sixth inning, but NPC’s defense held strong down the stretch to secure victory in the seven-inning opener.
Garcia led NPC at the plate, driving in three runs. Raitz allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts over six innings to earn his eighth career victory. Sophomore pitcher Ian Holm (Lafayette, Louisiana) slammed the door in relief, firing one scoreless inning with one strikeout to notch his first career save.
Game two was defined by home runs, with NPC unable to answer a go-ahead sixth-inning blast from the Bucks. UA Rich Mountain scored first in the finale, smacking an RBI single in the top of the first inning. After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, NPC broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning as Wacaser delivered a three-run homer over the left field wall to take a 3-1 lead. UA Rich Mountain got the last laugh, however, taking the lead for good on a sixth inning grand slam as the Bucks secured the series split.
Freshman pitcher Brent Davis (Hot Springs) opened the game for NPC, giving up five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts over six innings, with sophomore hurler Landon Hennen (Choudrant, Louisiana) contributing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts in relief. Wacaser led NPC at the plate, finishing two-for-four with three RBI in the loss.
NPC travels to DFW Post Grad Friday, February 21, 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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