09 Apr 2025 Nighthawks fall to No. 2 Aggies

Posted at 9:05 PMh in Sports by

TISHOMINGO, Okla. – The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks softball team (18-16, 9-3) dropped its National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 2 series against No. 2 Murray State College Tuesday, taking a 9-0 defeat in game one and falling short, 3-2, in the finale.

Bre Phillips

The Nighthawks struggled to get on base in the opener, mustering just two hits. Murray State College opened the scoring with a three-run bottom of the first inning to take the lead. NPC put baserunners aboard in the third and fourth innings, but was unable to bat them in to chip away at the deficit. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Aggies took charge of the contest, plating six runs to secure the walk-off run-ruled victory.

Sophomore hurler Bailee Cowell (Clarksville) got the start for NPC, allowing nine runs on nine hits with six strikeouts over four and two-thirds innings. Freshmen infielders Jordan Householder (Rockwall, Texas) and Bre Phillips (Vilonia) led NPC at the plate, finishing with one hit apiece in the loss.

Game two was much closer, with NPC falling just short in the end. Following a pitcher’s duel through three stalemate innings, the Nighthawks grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single from freshman designated player Maci Graves (Whitesboro, Texas). Murray State College rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, however, taking the lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Phillips homered to center field, tying the game, 2-2. The Aggies would not go away quietly, however, plating the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 3-2 advantage. Unable to answer in the top of the seventh inning, NPC fell to the Aggies in the series sweep.

Freshman pitcher Avery Creech (Logansport, Louisiana) took the loss in the circle, allowing three runs on six hits with two strikeouts over six innings of work. Phillips went two-for-two at the plate with one walk and two runs scored in the loss.

NPC faces Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, Oklahoma today, beginning at 12 p.m.

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