NPC Nighthawks Secure Spot in NJCAA Tournament with Sophomore Day Victory

On Sophomore Day, the National Park College (NPC) Nighthawks baseball team won a significant game, securing their place in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region II Tournament. They defeated Arkansas State University Mid-South with a score of 7-2. The game was special as it included a ceremony honoring 16 sophomores for their contributions to the team.

The match started with NPC trailing 1-0 in the first inning. They quickly recovered when freshman third baseman Wesley Campbell hit an RBI single to tie the game. ASU Mid-South took the lead again in the fourth inning with a home run. However, Campbell helped NPC regain the lead in the fifth inning with two more RBIs, and NPC maintained this lead for the rest of the game.

In the seventh inning, freshman second baseman Josh Wacaser added an RBI with a sacrifice fly. In the eighth, NPC increased their lead with three more runs, including an RBI sacrifice fly from sophomore Pedro Martinez and a two-run double from sophomore Mason Pankey. These plays secured NPC’s first postseason appearance since 2022.

Freshman pitcher Arthur Perez also played a crucial role, winning his fourth game of the season. He allowed two runs over seven innings and struck out four. Freshman Bryan Raitz closed the game, striking out four in two innings. Wesley Campbell was a key player, hitting three-for-five with three RBIs.

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