No. 11 Hawks top No. 1 NOC-Enid in opening weekend

ENID, Okla. – Timely hitting and solid pitching were the keys to success for the No. 11 Northeast Community College baseball team on Saturday and Sunday in Enid, Okla.

The Hawks (3-1) split with the defending national champions, No. 1 Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on Saturday, 10-6 and 5-4, before sweeping the Jets on Sunday, 10-5 and 9-3 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark to kick-off the 2020 season.

Mills Macek (Blair, Neb.) got the Hawks rolling in Game One after a solo home run in the top of the second. Brennen Bales (Nebraska City, Neb.) followed with a two-run homer an inning later. The Hawks managed to take a 7-2 lead after the fourth inning, before the Jets answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Hawks rallied to score three runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach. 

Macek went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and two runs. Bales added two hits, including a homer, two runs and two RBI, while Cooper Whitt (Knoxville, Tenn.) was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. 

Freshman Nate Zyzda (Sioux City, Iowa) notched his first win on the mound, tossing four innings, while allowing seven hits, four earned runs, while striking out three batters. Southpaw Matt Dreher (Blair, Neb.) worked two and two-third innings of relief, allowing no hits, while striking out five and walking one.

In the final game on Saturday, the Hawks managed to take a 4-1 lead into the fifth inning until the Jets answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Ben Prediger (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) tallied a double, while Derek Botaletto (Omaha, Neb.) added a triple and two runs. Preston Tenney (Parker, Colo.) was dealt the loss after throwing one and two-third innings of relief. 

On Sunday, runs weren't an issue for Northeast. The Hawks plated three runs in the fifth and four in the seventh to keep the Jets at bay. Botaletto recorded a double and a triple, while Caiden Hill (Papillion, Neb.) and Whitt added a double. Macek also went 2-for-2 with three runs. Freshman Chris Mazzini (Parker, Colo.) tossed five innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, while striking out seven.

The Hawks scurried to a 5-0 lead after three innings in the final game of the series and quickly followed with two runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Bales took a ball deep over the left-field wall and Houston Fogelstrom (Omaha, Neb.) hit his first home run in a Hawks uniform, while adding two RBI. Jayden Sinju (Murray, Utah) and Whitt each had two hits. Tanner Olmstead (Sioux Falls, S.D.) picked up his first win as a freshman, tossing five innings and allowing just four hits, while striking out seven.

The Hawks are back in action at 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for a four-game series with Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa in Tonkawa, Okla.

For all news related to Northeast Community College athletics, visit northeasthawks.com for complete coverage. Fans can also follow the Hawks on Twitter @NortheastHawks for game-day coverage.