The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks softball team (11-15, 3-3) swept its National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 2 series against North Arkansas College Friday, highlighted by a historic 11-0 win in the opener, followed by a 17-1 victory in game two.
Sophomore pitcher Avery Creech (Logansport, Louisiana) delivered a dominant performance in the opener, retiring all 15 batters she faced to record NPC’s second perfect game in program history.
Freshman first baseman Emma Sowell (Conway) opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, driving in sophomore right fielder Paige Attaway (Fouke) with an RBI single. In the second inning, sophomore third baseman Maci Graves (Whitesboro, Texas) plated freshman designated player Brooke LeBoeuf (Berwick, Louisiana) with an infield single and later scored on a throwing error. NPC padded its lead in the third inning, with LeBoeuf driving in two runs on a single to center field.
The Nighthawks broke the game open with a six-run fourth inning. Sophomore left fielder Rachel Lawyer (Rockwall, Texas) launched a grand slam over the left field wall, while freshman third baseman Hadley James (Springdale) and sophomore second baseman Alexis Ortego (Eunice, Louisiana) each scored on errors to cap the inning.
With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Creech battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out the final hitter and complete the historic outing.
Creech recorded six strikeouts on the day, earning her seventh career victory. Sowell and freshman center fielder Kierra Burkhart (Bentonville) collected two hits apiece, while Lawyer drove in four runs and scored twice in the win.
NPC’s pitching dominance continued in the finale, with freshman hurler Jalea Hawthorn (Hot Springs) allowing just one hit over five innings.
The Nighthawks’ bats remained hot early, with RBI singles from Rachel Lawyer and freshman catcher Kaitlyn Moreno (Lewisville, Texas) opening the scoring in the first inning. An RBI groundout from Attaway sparked a five‑run second, highlighted by run‑scoring hits from Sowell and Lawyer. Moreno’s sixth home run of the season capped the big inning—a two‑run shot.
The Nighthawks added six more runs in the third. Sophomore second baseman Delaney Loyd (El Dorado) scored on a defensive miscue before Attaway tripled in a run and Sowell doubled in another. Later in the inning, Graves capped the rally with a two‑run line drive to center.
In the fourth, James circled the bases on an inside‑the‑park home run aided by an error. Lawyer added an RBI double and later scored on an error, while LeBoeuf drove in Moreno with a single to right.
Hawthorn finished with 10 strikeouts to secure the win. Lawyer led the offense, going 3-for‑4 with three runs scored and three driven in.
NPC opens a four‑game NJCAA Region 2 road stretch with doubleheaders at Carl Albert State College on Friday, March 27, in Poteau, Oklahoma, and at the University of Arkansas–Rich Mountain on Saturday, March 28, in Mena. The Nighthawks return home Tuesday, March 31, to face Arkansas State University–Newport.
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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