GALLERY: UA Rich Mountain takes two from National Park

National Park's Jesus Minjarez, right, congratulates Cole Rodriguez after Rodriguez hit a home run in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against UA Rich Mountain. - Photo by Brandon Smith of The Sentinel-Record
National Park's Jesus Minjarez, right, congratulates Cole Rodriguez after Rodriguez hit a home run in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against UA Rich Mountain. - Photo by Brandon Smith of The Sentinel-Record

Arkansas-Rich Mountain swept Friday's doubleheader against National Park at Trojan Field, defeating the Nighthawks 16-11 in the first game and 8-6 in a comeback win of the second.

"Obviously, we didn't do very well, and we just needed to get somebody out in the last two innings," said Nighthawks head coach Rich Thompson. "You know, I was very disappointed with how it ended up. It is what it is."

Thompson said he is now focusing on the upcoming regional tournament next week.

"Really, we're just going to save some pitching tomorrow, and then we're going to throw our horses," he said. "You know, we've got our number one (pitcher) left, so we need to look to the future, and really tomorrow doesn't matter."

The Bucks (26-25, 14-13) got on the board early in the first game, leading off with a two-run home run to right-center from first baseman Luke Rice, only to be followed by a solo shot by catcher Eli Garrison on his very first pitch for a 3-0 advantage.

The Nighthawks (21-27, 10-16) struck back in the bottom of the inning when both freshman left fielder Nathan Kirkpatrick and freshman shortstop Tristen Jamison went long to pull within 3-2.

Bucks head coach Lance Spigner said he thought both programs were really good.

"I'm proud that we're both representing Arkansas with National Park in their second year and ours in its first," said Spigner. "And I think both of the programs have a lot to be proud of. As far as the game are concerned, I knew, two really good teams going at each other, I knew it was going to be tight and it was going to be hard-fought. And in this park, you've just got to keep swinging, no lead is safe here, so you've just got to keep playing."

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Bucks' designated hitter Daniel Taylor kept things going with a three-run shot in the top of the second to give Rich Mountain a 6-2 edge.

After the Bucks tacked on two more in the third, center fielder C.J. Price got things going for the Nighthawks with a double off the center field wall which led to Jamison's second home run to pull the home team within 8-5. Both Garrison and third baseman Wesley Featherston went deep to keep the home run derby going for the Bucks.

The Nighthawks made their way back into the game in the bottom of the fifth as freshman catcher Jesus Minjarez, a Lakeside grad, hit a grand slam to cut the lead to 12-9 going into the sixth. Once again, the Bucks responded with a four-run sixth inning to maintain a steady lead.

Freshman Demias Jimerson, a Malvern grad, went long again in the bottom of the sixth before freshman third baseman Jack Hackney brought in the final run for the Nighthawks with an RBI single to set the final.

Drake Fontenot pitched five and one-third innings for the Bucks, recording five strikeouts and four walks. Carson Crawford closed it out with one strikeout and a walk.

Garrison went 2 for 2 with two home runs and four RBIs, Rice went 3 for 4 with a home run and one RBI, Clark went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Taylor went 3 for 5 with a home run, three RBIs and a steal, Featherston went 2 for 4 with a home run and one RBI, and Price went 1 for 3 with a grand slam and five RBIs.

Freshman pitcher Robby Caro went one and one-third inning for NPC with two strikeouts and a pair of walks while freshman Jackson Pope recorded two strikeouts and one walk in two and one-third innings. Left-handed pitcher Brayden Solida went one and one-third innings with three walks while sophomore Mason Sellers closed out the game with one strikeout.

Minjarez went 3 for 4 with a grand slam and four RBIs, Jamison went 2 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs, Jimerson went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI and Kirkpatrick went 1 for 4 with a home run and an RBI.

The Nighthawks maintained control for most of the second game as Jamison hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the first before the Bucks got one run back in the second.

Freshman first baseman and pitcher Cole Rodriguez responded in the bottom of the third by taking the first pitch deep over the center field wall for a two-run cushion that the Nighthawks maintained until the fifth when Jimerson rocked his first pitch out of the park, followed by another solo shot -- also on the first pitch -- by Jamison for a 5-1 lead.

After a balk agaisnt Bucks' pitcher Maddox Long brought in another NPC run, Rich Mountain responded in the top of the inning with a solo home run from left fielder Cole Clark to cut the lead to 6-2.

The Bucks comeback began in the top of the eighth when second baseman Isaac Price hit an RBI single, and two batters later, right fielder Preston Lee singled to plate first baseman Luke Rice, pulling within 6-4. After Reynolds walked to bring in another run, Taylor brought in two more off a double for the Bucks' first lead of the game at 7-6.

Spigner said it is all about not giving up.

"I thought we were dragging a little bit in the middle innings and, you know, we talked about, once again, we know here that with this park being smaller than a lot, no lead is really safe. If you'll just stay in it, stay close, not let it get away from you, you got a chance no matter what the score is or no matter how late the game is."

Bucks' relief pitcher Cooper Perry held the Nighthawks the rest of the game as Rylee Huie set the final with a solo shot to deep center.

Long pitched five and one-third innings for the Bucks with seven strikeouts and four walks while Perry closed it out with four strikeouts and one walk.

Taylor went 3 for 5 with a double, two RBIs and a steal, Reynolds went 2 for 3 with a double, and Huie went 2 for 5 with a home run, a double and one RBI.

Freshman Kenley Anderson pitched eight and one-third innings for the Nighthawks with nine strikeouts and two walks while giving up two runs. Freshman Andy Roberts recorded one strikeout in one inning while freshman Ty Jackson closed out the game with a strikeout and a walk.

Jimerson went 3 for 4 with a home run and one RBI, Jamison went 2 for 6 with two more home runs and three RBIs, Rodriguez went 2 for 5 with a home run and an RBI, and Newsom went 1 for 2 with a double and two steals.

The Nighthawks head to Rich Mountain today for another double header with the first game starting at 1 p.m. They will then play in the NJCAA Region 2 tournament at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla., next Thursday at noon.

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