Next game:
at Louisiana Tech University
March 17, 2024 | 1:00 PM
ESPN+
Sunday, March 17th 1pm
at Louisiana Tech University
History RUSTON – The Northwestern State University baseball team had a little more action Saturday in the second game of a three-game series at Louisiana Tech.
But the Demons needed a little more sharpness down the stretch, as the home-standing Bulldogs rallied late for the second consecutive game to win a 7-5 decision at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
“We continue to be proud of their fight and we continue to be proud of their competitiveness,” first-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “Throughout the game, we performed well here and there. Now it's about finding consistency. We'll get better in the game-defining moments. We talked about those moments of execution (Friday). We had a lead. We had chances to spread the ball and prevent ourselves from conceding goals, but we couldn't convert either.”
Early in the mid-game series, the Demons (5-14) had the better result as the teams traded heavy attacks.
Trailing 1-0 after giving the Bulldogs the lead on a double error, Northwestern State fought back with three runs, highlighted by Daniel Young's two-run homer in the first inning.
Louisiana Tech (15-5) wasted no time and took advantage of a one-out walk to score Kasten Farr's two-run single to tie the game. On Saturday, Northwestern State right-handers Dawson Flowers and Aidan Newton (0-2) issued four walks, and the Bulldogs earned three of them.
“They scored in five of their offensive innings and allowed rallies in three of them with walks,” Bertrand said. “For us, against a phenomenal baseball team like this, a team that is looking to break through, we have to be better in the pitching moments and in the big moments.”
The pendulum game swung back to the Demons in the third inning, and Samuel Stevenson, who started at No. 2 in the second game, hit a go-ahead home run to regain the lead. Stephenson went 2-for-4 and scored two runs, including the Demons' game-winning run in the fifth inning.
Within that frame, Northwestern State accomplished small things offensively as Stevenson led off the first inning on a single by left-hander Connor Nation (1-0) and advanced to second base on Rocco Gump's sacrifice bunt. He showed off his abilities.
Three batters later, Clay John won the left-to-left battle and hit a go-ahead RBI single to left to give the Demons a 5-4 lead.
“Sam and the rest of the guys, we're playing a lineup that gives us a little bit more length and I think it's working well,” Bertrand said. “Last night we had nine runs and on Saturday we had five runs and six hits against a really good pitching staff. Some of the things we're working on are working.”
The Bulldogs scored the winning run on a walk in the seventh inning.
After allowing a leadoff single, Newton started a double play off the bat of Logan McLeod, leaving Louisiana Tech with no bases and two outs before Kasten Farr gave up a walk. Cole McConnell hit a go-ahead two-run home run, and the Bulldogs decided to stay in the game.
Northwestern State tied the game in the eighth inning with two one-out walks against closer Ethan Bates, but a baserunning error turned an infield fly into a double play before Bates pitched a perfect ninth inning to clinch the win. Ta.
The series ends Sunday with a 2 p.m. start, but has been postponed by an hour due to rain forecast for the area. NSU will send freshman right-hander Dylan Marioneau (0-3, 4.70) to the mound to face Louisiana Tech right-hander Turner Swistak (2-0, 5.79).
Louisiana Tech 7, Northwestern 5
NSU 031 010 000 – 5 6 1
LT 121,000 21x – 7 8 1
W – Connor Nation (1-0). L – Aidan Newton (0-2). S – Ethan Bates (5). 2B – Baylin Valentine, NSU. LT, Dalton Davis, Adarius Myers, Logan McLeod. HR – NSU, Samuel Stevenson (2). LT, Cole McConnell (6). Highlights: NSU, Stevenson 2-4, HR, RBI. LT, Davis 2-3, 2B, RBI.
Record: Northwestern State 5 wins, 14 losses. Louisiana Tech 15-5.
