30 Apr 2025 Nighthawks down SAU Tech

HOT SPRINGS — The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (30-17-1, 13-7) won three of four National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 2 games against SAU Tech last week, earning 9-1 and 15-0 wins in the first two games of the series while falling, 7-4, in game three and soaring to a 15-4 victory in the finale.

Scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, NPC took control of game one early and never looked back. Freshman right fielder Ian McCracken (Carrollton, Texas) drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by three additional runs scoring on a fielding error. Sophomore catcher Jace Denton (Flowermound, Texas) smacked an RBI single to center field to cap the scoring as the Nighthawks took a 5-0 advantage.

National Park College lit up the scoreboard again in the top of the second inning, with sophomore first baseman Josh Wacaser (Bentonville) delivering an RBI line drive into the outfield. Leading, 6-0, entering the top of the third inning, NPC padded its lead with three more runs: an RBI single from freshman shortstop Cam Landy (Perth, Australia) and a two-run single from sophomore second baseman Que Walton (Atlanta, Georgia).

SAU Tech finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, plating one run, but was unable to spark a rally in defeat.

Sophomore pitcher Bryan Raitz (Dallas, Texas) allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts over seven innings to earn his 13th career victory. At the plate, Denton, Wacaser and Walton led the Nighthawks with two hits apiece in the win.

Walton flirted with history in game two, tying NPC’s single game marks for hits (5) and doubles (3) in a lopsided Nighthawk win. Wacaser and sophomore designated hitter Aiden Smith (Nashville) each knocked in runs in the top of the first inning, giving NPC a 2-0 lead. National Park College plated three additional runs in the second inning, with sophomore left fielder Dylan Garcia (Rockwall, Texas) belting a leadoff solo home run and Walton delivering a two-run double to extend the lead.

NPC’s largest offensive output came in the top of the third inning with four runs scored. Garcia and sophomore center fielder Ryan McClure (Double Oak, Texas) drove in runs with RBI singles, followed by another two-run double from Walton as the Nighthawks took a 9-0 lead.

Garcia and sophomore third baseman Landon Hennen (Choudrant, Louisiana) sacrificed in runs in the top of the fourth inning as NPC continued to pad its lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Landy and Wacaser drove in one run apiece with RBI singles to center field.

Leading, 13-0, in the top of the seventh inning, game two was suspended due to lightning. The game continued Saturday as NPC played host to the Rockets from Majestic Park in Hot Springs. As the game resumed, so did the Nighthawks’ hot hitting, with Landy driving in the final two runs of the game on a double to left field.

Freshman hurler Joey Staiger (Tucson, Arizona) picked up his sixth win of the season, firing six scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Hennen pitched one inning of shutout ball Saturday as NPC picked up its 29th victory of the season—setting the program record for wins in a season. At the plate, Walton finished five-for-five with four runs batted in and one run scored.

A six-run sixth inning allowed SAU Tech to turn the tables in game three. Garcia helped NPC light up the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning, driving in Smith on an RBI single to center field. In the bottom of the third inning, Wacaser sacrificed in Walton, giving the Nighthawks a 2-0 advantage.

After the Rockets cut the lead in half, 2-1, in the top of the fifth inning, NPC responded with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the frame to extend the lead. Down two runs in the top of the sixth inning, SAU Tech’s bats got hot when it mattered the most, plating six runs to come from behind and take the lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, NPC managed to load the bases with the potential tying run at home plate, but was unable to mount a comeback in defeat.

Sophomore pitcher Ian Holm (Lafayette, Louisiana) took the loss on the mound, allowing seven runs on six hits with three strikeouts over five and one-third innings. At the plate, Walton and Garcia each finished two-for-three in the loss.

NPC bounced back with two six-run innings of its own in the series finale, soaring to the series win. McCracken opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, driving in Walton on a single to center field. Held in check over the next couple of innings, the Nighthawks opened the floodgates, offensively, in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring six runs. McClure doubled in a run, followed by an RBI single from Wacaser. Next, McCracken delivered an RBI double to center field, followed by an RBI sacrifice groundout from Smith to extend the lead. NPC capped its big inning with back-to-back RBI doubles from Garcia and sophomore left fielder Justin Mitchem (Benton) to take a 7-0 lead.

SAU Tech managed to score twice in the top of the sixth inning. The Nighthawks answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, with Mitchem singling in Smith and Landy sacrificing in Garcia to pad the lead. The Rockets plated two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, attempting to mount a comeback, but NPC finished off its opponent with six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn the walk-off victory.

Walton drove in two runs on a line drive to center field, followed by back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Smith and freshman designated hitter Ty Ruby (Greenbrier). Garcia delivered the game-winning hit next, doubling in Wacaser and Smith to end the game. 

Freshman pitcher Brent Davis (Hot Springs) was difficult to hit from the mound, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts over five and one-third innings. At the plate, Garcia finished three-for-three with three runs scored, three runs batted in and two walks in the win.  

NPC travels to Southeast Arkansas College Thursday, May 1, for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Nighthawks return home to celebrate Sophomore Day against the Sharks Saturday, May 3, at Majestic Park beginning at 1 p.m.