HAWKS SPLIT SEASON-OPENING DOUBLEHEADER IN OKLAHOMA

ENID, Okla. – The Northeast Community College baseball team took the field for the first time in 2022 on Monday and split a doubleheader with Northern Oklahoma College-Enid at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla.

The Hawks (1-1) fell in Game 1 in the bottom of the seventh inning 6-5 on a walk-off grand slam, despite taking a 5-2 lead in the top of the seventh. The Hawks came back in Game 2 to down the Jets, 5-3.

The Hawks were first on the scoreboard after Zane Zielinski (Chicago, Ill.) hit an RBI double to centerfield. Samuel Manwarren (Overland Park, Kan.) grounded out to score Zielinski to put the Hawks up 2-0 after three innings.

In the top of the seventh, Taylor Gill (Orem, Utah) singled to score Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo.) and Parker Dorrance (Arvada, Colo.) later doubled that scored two runs to put the Hawks in the driver's seat. The Jets loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning and never looked back after one swing of the bat.

Preston Tenney (Parker, Colo.) tossed five innings, allowing two earned runs off four hits, while striking out eight batters. Gill went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Dorrance added a double and two RBI.

Four runs in the fourth inning sealed the victory for the Hawks in the final game of the doubleheader. Manwarren and Houston Fogelstrom (Omaha, Neb.)  scored on an error by the left fielder, before Taubert stepped to the plate and crushed an RBI triple. Máximo De León (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) later singled to score Taubert.

Gill tallied his first home run in a Hawks uniform, while Taubert went 1-for-2 with a triple, a run and an RBI. Chris Mazzini (Parker, Colo.) grabbed the win after tossing four innings, allowing three earned runs off seven hits. He also struck out four and walked two. Dylan Rodgers (Norfolk, Neb.) recorded the save, while allowing a hit and striking out two.

The Hawks are back in action at 1 p.m. tomorrow in a doubleheader against the Jets in Enid.