By: Justin Hargrove, NTCC Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) hosted the Pratt Junior College Beavers this weekend. After pushing the series back one day to help with field conditions, the teams could not have asked for a better day with temperatures around 60 degrees and sunshine all day. The Eagles took advantage of the wonderful weather beating Pratt 11-3 in game one and 7-4 in game two of the day.
In Game one, NTCC sent Hayden Shaddox to the mound for the start. Shaddox would go 4 innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 4 while only giving up 2 runs. Mikel Howell came in for the final three innings and earned the win added four more strike outs while only giving up 2 hits and one 1.
The Eagle offense got started in the first inning when Cody Cleveland hit a one out double and then advanced to third on a Sacrifice Fly to right by Jacbob Rosales. Cleveland would score the first run of the game on a double to left center by Brian Juarez. The Eagle hitters were seeing the ball well in game one, NTCC had 15 hits in the game and scored in every inning. Cleveland, Alex Bruce, and Cole Modgling would all have three hit performances in the first home game of the season for the Eagles. Jake Chapman had two hits in the game as well.
In game two of the series, the Eagles would defeat the Beavers 7-4 thanks to a four run 6th inning by NTCC. Javan Smitherman got the ball for game 2 and went 5 solid innings allowing 2 runs on three hits and striking out two. Harrison Gaienne, Chance Bolter, and Camden Sargent would each pitch in relief to help the Eagles to the win over Pratt JC in game two. Cody Cleveland remained hot at the plate adding two more hits on the day along with Isaac Rivera who also had two hits in game two for NTCC.
The Eagles offensive attack looks to stay on track in game three against the Beavers with an 11:00am start on Sunday. The game time moved up to try to get ahead of impending weather on Sunday afternoon.
