JENSEN HOMERS AGAIN AS HAWKS DROP TWO MONDAY TO NJCAA DI BARTON

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College baseball team was back home Monday for their final non-conference series of the season against NJCAA DI Barton Community College. The Hawks fell in Game 1 by a final score of 5-1 and dropped Game 2, 4-3.

Northeast (14-9) had eight hits compared to just six from the visiting Cougars in Game 1 but were only able to push one run across throughout the contest. Edgar Hernandez (Glenwood Spring, Colo.) picked up the lone RBI for the Hawks in the bottom of the fourth inning, which was his 17th of the season. Max Denson (Broken Bow, Neb.) was efficient out of the bullpen as the freshman went three innings and allowed just one earned run.

Kale Jensen blasted his seventh homer of the season for Northeast in the bottom of the first inning in Game 2 to score Carter Noakes (Dannebrog, Neb.) and Hayden Parrish (Omaha, Neb.), but that would be the final run scored for the Hawks during the afternoon. Northeast will have a quick turnaround as they will battle Des Moines Area Community College to begin conference play at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk.

STAT SHEET GAME 1:

Edgar Hernandez (Glenwood Springs, Colo.): 0-2, RBI, BB

Cole Kuszak (Broomfield, Colo.): 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 K

Max Denson (Broken Bow, Neb.): 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 K

(Stats for Game 2 are currently unavailable)

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head baseball coach Marcus Clapp on the doubleheader Monday:

"Just us again not doing the things that we need to," Clapp said. "I don't know how many guys we left on base today, especially in Game 2. It had to be over 12 guys. We didn't execute bunts. We out-hit them in both games and lost two games. They only had seven hits on the day. It's just frustrating. Tough breaks and it is what it is."

Clapp on beginning conference play tomorrow:

"I've said it all year," Clapp said. "I don't care who we are playing. I know conference starts and it matters now, but we can't keep hurting ourselves. Whether it's walks, errors or our offense getting away from our approach. When we stick with those things, and I know that sounds simple and easy to do, but I feel like every game we've lost has been something we've controlled. We'll get ready for conference tomorrow."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will host Des Moines Area Community College in one game beginning at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Baseball Field in Norfolk.

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