07 Apr 2021 Nighthawks baseball avoids sweep

HOT SPRINGS — The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks baseball team avoided an NJCAA Region II Division II series sweep to Murray State College over the weekend, picking up a come-from-behind 11-9 win in the series finale on Sunday.
In the series opener on Saturday, NPC was held to just three hits in a 4-0 shutout loss. Nighthawk freshman pitcher Cole Rodriguez (Cypress, TX) surrendered four runs on ten hits over six innings, while striking out six in the loss.  

In game two, the Nighthawks fell behind early behind big home runs from the Aggies. Trailing, 8-0, entering the bottom of the eighth inning, NPC plated three runs on RBI from Tristen Jamison (Nashville) and Rodriguez, but did not complete the comeback, falling, 8-3. Freshman Jared Harris (Houston, TX) went 2-3 at the plate while freshman pitcher Matthew Herron (Mountain Pine) pitched two and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three in the loss. 

NPC struggled at the plate in the first game of Sunday’s double header, tallying just three hits. Murray State College started the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning and added five additional runs to take a 6-0 victory in seven innings. Sophomore hurler Mason Sellers (Texarkana) surrendered five runs on seven hits over four and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking one in the loss.  

In the series finale, the Nighthawks found themselves trailing, 6-0, entering the fourth inning. NPC plated three runs in the fourth inning, one run in the fifth inning and two runs in the sixth inning to pull within one run, 8-7, entering the seventh inning.  

In the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Demias Jimerson (Malvern) blasted a three-run home run to take the lead en route to a 11-9 victory.  

Jimerson went 3-4 at the plate with two home runs and six RBI while freshman Jesus Minjarez (Hot Springs) went 2-3 at the plate with a home run in the win. Freshman pitcher Ty Jackson (Bryant) earned the win in two innings of relief.  NPC travels to Northern Oklahoma College-Enid (Enid, OK) for a double header on Saturday, Apr. 10 beginning at 4 p.m. and a double header at noon on Sunday, April 11.

For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit Nighthawks Baseball online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.