National Park avoided a sweep in their NJCAA Region II Division II series over the weekend, taking a come-from-behind 11-9 win in Sunday's series finale aganst Murray State.
Trailing 6-0 going into the fourth inning of the finale, NPC scored three in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to pull within 8-7 going into the seventh. Malvern freshman Demias Jimerson hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sevent to propel thte Nighthawks to victory.
Jimerson was 3 for 4 at the plate with two home runs and six RBIs while Lakeside freshman Jesus Minjarez went 2 for 3 with a homr run, and freshman pitcher Ty Jackson earned the win off two innings in relief.
The Nighthawks picked up just three hits in Saturday's 4-0 shutout with freshman pitcher Cole Rodriguez giving up four runs off 10 hits over six innings while fanning six.
Murray State took an 8-0 lead behind big home runs before NPC plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth in the 8-3 loss. Mountain Pine grad Matthew Herron gave up four runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings on the mound.
The Nighthawks picked up just three hits in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. The Aggies had a solo home run in the first en route to a 6-0 win in seven innings with sophomore pitcher Mason Sellers giving up five runs off seven hits over 4 2/3 innings while fanning four.
NPC visits Northern Oklahoma-Enid for doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's games start at 4 p.m. with Sunday's matches starting at noon.
NPC DROP REGIONAL
PLAYOFF GAMES
NPC's basketball seasons came to a close over the weekend as the Nighthawk women fell to Arkansas-Cossatot 62-55 Friday and the men falling to North Arkansas 86-82 Saturday
The Nighthawks fell behind early Friday night, struggling to hit in the paint while the Lady Colts took control from the perimeter. Trailing 20-10 after 10 minutes, freshman India Atkins put up 5 points in the second to help chip away at the decisit, but Arkansas-Cossatot stretched to a 33-20 lead at intermission.
The Lady Colts pushed out to a 51-31 lead with 2:26 left in the third, but four 3-pointers in the period, including two from Atkins, NPC pulled within 55-38 going into the final frame. NPC hit an 8-0 run to start the fourth to pull within 9, bringing the game within 62-55 with a minute left, but it could not complete the comeback.
Atkins led the Nighthawks with 18 points in the loss.
The Nighthawk men started off strong Saturday, led by 13 points from freshman JoQuarius Valrie who hit 6 of 6 from the free throw line and 10 points from freshman Kylil Anderson. Freshman Garrett Powell starred on defense as NPC held the Pioneers to just a single 3-pointer in the first half for a 42-38 halftime lead.
The Nighthawks kept to their game plan in the second half, capitalizing on North Arkansas' foul trouble to shoot 16 of 18 from the charity stripe while hitting timely treys to keep pace. Sayvon Traylor put up 12 in the second half, but trailing 84-82 with 0.6 seconds left, North Arkansas hit two more from the line to secure the win.
Valrie led the team with 19 points, Traylor added 15, Anderson had 12, and Powell finished with 11.