The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (25-15-1, 10-6) lost its National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 2 doubleheader at South Arkansas College Saturday, falling, 3-1, in the opener and dropping a 29-7 decision in the finale.
NPC fell behind early and could not catch up in game one. Trailing, 2-0, entering the fourth inning, the Nighthawks cut the lead in half with a solo home run from sophomore first baseman Josh Wacaser (Bentonville), but struggled to score runs down the stretch. After adding an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Stars outlasted the Nighthawks in the end.
Sophomore pitcher Ian Holm (Lafayette, Louisiana) gave up three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts over six innings in the start. Wacaser led the Nighthawks at the plate, finishing two-for-three in the loss.
In a game featuring 30 total hits, the Nighthawks could not overcome the Stars’ offensive onslaught in the finale. Wacaser smacked an RBI double in the top of the first inning, giving NPC an early 1-0 lead. The Stars would rally from behind, however, scoring two runs in the first inning and three runs in the second inning to take a 5-1 advantage.
Sophomore designated hitter Aiden Smith (Nashville) helped NPC cut into the deficit in the top of the third inning, drawing a bases-loaded walk. After South Arkansas College plated four more runs in the bottom of the third inning, the Nighthawks added another run on an RBI single from sophomore second baseman Que Walton (Atlanta, Georgia). The Stars blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating eight runs to take a 17-3 lead.
The Nighthawks did not go down without a fight, plating two runs in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single from Wacaser and a bases-loaded walk from Smith. NPC added its final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning, with sophomore Dylan Garcia (Rockwall, Texas) driving in a run on a sacrifice groundout and sophomore Ricky Iselin (Rogers) hitting an RBI sacrifice fly to left field. South Arkansas College would not be denied, however, taking the series win.
Freshman hurler Brent Davis (Hot Springs) took the loss on the mound, giving up nine runs on five hits with three strikeouts over two and one-third innings. Walton went three-for-four with two runs scored to lead the Nighthawks in hitting, while Wacaser finished two-for-three at the plate, driving in two runs in the loss.
NPC faces Hendrix College Wednesday, April 16, in Conway for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Nighthawks return home Friday, April 18, against Twin City Post Grad at Majestic Park, beginning at 1 p.m. Friday’s game will be streamed live on the Nighthawk Network.
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