HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS - The National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball team (10-8-1) dropped its NJCAA Region 2 series against University of Arkansas Rich Mountain (UA Rich Mountain) last week, falling, 5-2, in 10 innings Thursday and splitting Saturday’s double header with a 5-4 extra-innings victory and an 8-5 defeat.

In Thursday’s series opener, a pitcher’s duel got away from the Nighthawks in the 10th inning. NPC grabbed the lead, 2-0, in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI sacrifice groundout from sophomore designated hitter Jimbo Batchelor (Senoia, Georgia) and an RBI groundout from sophomore left fielder Pedro Martinez (Cleburne, Texas). UA Rich Mountain tied the game with two runs across in the top of the sixth inning and the two rivals played to a stalemate after nine innings. In the top of the 10th inning, the Bucks took their first lead of the game with a three-run rally. With NPC unable to respond, offensively, UA Rich Mountain claimed the series advantage.

Sophomore pitcher Carter Gaston (Homer, Louisiana) allowed two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings in the start for NPC. Freshman reliever Arthur Perez (Houston, Texas) allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts over three innings of relief. At the plate, Batchelor, sophomore center fielder Hunter Guill (Bentonville), freshman third baseman Josh Lumsden (Denton, Texas), sophomore catcher Jaiden Ryals (Cabot) and freshman shortstop Que Walton (Atlanta, Georgia) led the Nighthawks with one hit apiece in the loss.

NPC rallied late in Saturday’s opener to even the series. After falling behind, 2-0, in the first inning, the Nighthawks tied the game in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk from Batchelor, followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from Walton. National Park College took its first lead in the top of the fourth inning, 3-2, on an RBI single from Ryals. UA Rich Mountain would not go away quietly, however, tying the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and taking a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. An RBI single from freshman third baseman Wesley Campbell (Fountain Lake) tied the game in the seventh inning as the Nighthawks forced extra innings in back-to-back games. An RBI sacrifice fly from Batchelor drove in the go-ahead run for the Nighthawks in the eighth inning as NPC evened the series at one game apiece.

Sophomore hurler Eli Hutcherson (Cabot) earned the win for NPC, allowing four runs on four hits with five strikeouts over eight innings. Ryals and freshman second baseman Ryan McClure (Double Oak, Texas) led the Nighthawks at the plate with two hits apiece.

Despite outhitting the Bucks, 6-5, the Nighthawks fell to UA Rich Mountain in the series finale. Behind a three-run home run from Martinez, NPC jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Bucks chipped away at the deficit with one run across in the third inning. The Nighthawks padded their lead with an RBI double from Ryals in the fourth inning to hold a 4-1 advantage. UA Rich Mountain answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning and a six-run fifth inning to take the lead for good. Trailing, 8-4, entering the seventh inning, Guill drove in a run for NPC, but the Nighthawks could not complete the comeback in defeat.

Freshman pitcher Bryan Raitz (Coppell, Texas) allowed two runs on four hits with five strikeouts over four innings in the start for NPC. Freshman pitchers Trace Loeding (St. Cloud, Florida), Emerson Lott (North Richland Hills, Texas) and David Austen (Coral Springs, Florida) each provided relief appearances in the loss. At the plate, Martinez went one-for-three with a three-run home run, while Ryals finished two-for-three in the loss.

NPC plays host to South Arkansas College Thursday, March 7, beginning at 5 p.m. at Majestic Park in Hot Springs. [np.edu/live]The game will be streamed live on the Nighthawk Network. The series will continue with a double header at South Arkansas College in El Dorado Saturday, March 9, in El Dorado, beginning at 12 p.m.

For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit [np.edu/athletics]Nighthawk Athletics online. Fans can also follow the Nighthawks all season on social media.