The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks softball team (22-16, 13-3) swept its National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 2 series against Carl Albert State College Saturday, soaring to an 8-0 win in game one and taking a 9-1 victory in the finale.
Sophomore pitcher Bailee Cowell (Clarksville) was dominant in her 11th win of the season, allowing just two hits with seven strikeouts in the complete game victory. NPC opened the scoring with five runs across in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman second baseman Maci Graves (Whitesboro, Texas) smacked an RBI single, followed by sophomore center fielder Tayler Southern (Winnsboro, Louisiana) scoring on an error. Later in the inning, freshman shortstop Jordan Householder (Mansfield, Texas) lifted a three-run double into center field to cap NPC’s big inning.
Freshman third baseman Bre Phillips (Conway) added to the Nighthawk lead in the bottom of the second inning, launching a two-run home run over the center field wall. Leading, 7-0, heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Householder scored the winning run on a walk-off bunt single from freshman left fielder Rachel Lawyer (Rockwall, Texas).
With her 23rd career victory, Cowell becomes NPC’s all-time leader in wins. Householder led NPC at the plate, finishing two-for-three with three runs batted in and one run scored in the win.
NPC’s bats remained hot in game two as the Nighthawks overcame an early deficit to cruise to victory. After the Lady Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, National Park College answered with a solo home run from Phillips to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. Later in the inning, NPC took the lead, 2-1, on an RBI single from sophomore designated player Karlee Marrall (Perryville).
The Nighthawks added two runs to their total in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman right fielder Sara Camplain (Cabot) smacked an RBI single to left field, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from Southern. Camplain drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth inning, extending NPC’s lead to 5-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, National Park College rallied for four runs to achieve their second-consecutive walk-off win. Sophomore first baseman Jessica Suire (New Iberia, Louisiana) belted a three-run double into right field, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from Camplain, which scored Suire as the winning run.
Sophomore pitcher Gracie Fowler (Texarkana) went the distance in the circle, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts over five innings. Marrall led the Nighthawks at the plate, finishing two-for-three with one run batted in and one run scored in the win.
NPC travels to Arkansas State University-Three Rivers Tuesday, April 15, in Malvern for an NJCAA Region 2 doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. The Nighthawks return home Thursday, April 17, at Majestic Park for an NJCAA Region 2 doubleheader against University of Arkansas Rich Mountain beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday’s games will be streamed live on the Nighthawk Network.
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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