Box Score Box Score
HAMMOND – Northwestern State's Eric DeBlanc extended his school-record hitting streak to 27 games, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored while Colin Bear delivered a clutch two-run double in the sixth inning as the Demons defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 8-4, in a Southland Conference game Friday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
The win moved Northwestern State (35-19, 21-10 Southland) in sole possession of second place in the league standings, one-half game behind leader Texas State and one-game in front of Southeastern (39-16, 21-11 Southland).
The teams will face off the regular-season finale on Saturday in a 2 p.m. contest. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. Prior to the game, Southeastern will honor its five-man senior class as
Ryan Boudreaux,
Cole Catalano,
Chris Ernest,
Chris Franklin and
Phillip Freeman will be recognized.
Both teams can still claim the Southland Conference title with a win coupled with a Texas State loss against visiting UT Arlington. Southeastern can share the regular-season title with Texas State for the first-time ever while claiming the No. 1 seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament. Northwestern State can claim the title outright with a win, coupled by a Bobcat loss.
The Demons scored two unearned runs in taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning as DeBlanc and Oscar Garcia hit back-to-back singles off Franklin (8-5) and Chase Lyles walked to load the bases. DeBlanc and Garcia gave the Demons a 2-0 lead when they scored on an error by
Brock Hebert and Lyles would later score on a wild pitch.
Southeastern responded in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of hits off NSU starter Ryan Zimmerman (6-4), cutting the lead to 3-2.
Cass Hargis led off the frame with a walk and scored when
Justin Boudreaux launched his team-high 13th home run of the season over the left-field fence.
Jeff Harkensee then hit his Southland Conference-leading 24th double of the season off the left field wall, tying the school-record set last season by
Ty Summerlin. But Southeastern was held hitless until the seventh when
Joe Sparacino double down the left-field line and would score on a sacrifice fly by
Trey Martin.
Zimmerman scattered three hits and fanned two batters in six innings of work before Heath Hennigan pitched the final three innings to record his second save of the year.
Northwestern State broke the game open in the sixth after Lyles led off with a walk and Adam Roy hit an opposite-field single. After both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Baisley, Lyles gave the Demons a 4-2 lead when he scored on a passed ball.
Bear, who finished 3-for-4, then doubled to right-center field that gave the Demons a 6-2 lead. Northwestern State added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Roy before Lyles hit a solo homer in the ninth to add an insurance run.
Franklin scattered nine hits and allowed seven runs – three unearned – while striking out three. Sparacino went 2-for-3 to lead Southeastern at the plate.
Northwestern State.. 300 003 101 - 8 10 0 (35-19, 21-10 SLC)
Southeastern La..... 200 000 200 - 4 4 1 (39-16, 21-11 SLC)
Zimmerman, Hennigan (7) and Munoz. Franklin, Schneider (9) and Cryer. W – Zimmerman (6-4). Sv. - Hennigan (2). L - Franklin (8-5). E – Hebert (12). DP - SLU 1. LOB - NWLA 5; SLU 4. 2B – Bear (3); Harkensee (24); Sparacino (8). HR – Lyles (7); J. Boudreaux (13). HBP - Lyles, Cryer. SH - Garcia (2); Baisley (2). SF - Roy (4); Martin (3). CS – Bear (1); J. Boudreaux (4). T - 2:41. A – 1,012.
