NATCHITOCHES, La. – Northwestern State scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings Sunday, holding on to beat Southeastern Louisiana, 3-2, in Southland Conference play at Brown-Stroud Field.
Multiple attempts to tie the game by Southeastern (25-8, 13-2 Southland) fell short as the Lions stranded the potential tying run in scoring position in the sixth, eighth and ninth.
The Demons (17-15, 8-7 Southland) scored an unearned run in the second, taking their first lead of the weekend series.
Center fielder Nick Heath rapped a two-out single to right field and later advanced to second base on a passed ball. Right fielder Miller Parker reached on an error by the shortstop, keeping the inning alive, and second baseman Spencer Goodwin gave Northwestern State the lead as he knocked an RBI single to right.
Cort Brinson, David Fry and Daniel Garner produced consecutive singles to open up the third, with Garner driving in Brinson to give the Demons a 2-0 lead.
Miller led off the fourth with a single up the middle and was sacrificed to second. After left fielder Matt Valdez reached on an infield single, Miller scored on Brinson's grounder to third.
Southeastern clawed back within striking distance in the fifth.
Right fielder
Webb Bobo led off the inning with a single up the middle.
Drew Avans dropped a one-out single into left-center, putting runners at first and second. Catcher
Sam Roberson was hit by a pitch to load the bases for
Taylor Schwaner.
The Lion third baseman ripped an RBI single to center, driving in Bobo. Avans scored on a sacrifice fly by
Jacob Seward, pulling the Lions within one.
Repeated attempts to pull even by Southeastern came up short as Fisher was stranded at second base twice, in the sixth and eighth.
In the ninth,
Carson Crites beat out a bunt single with one out and stole second base, but Southeastern again failed to get the potential tying run home.
Starting pitcher
Domenick Carlini (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season despite tossing his second complete game of the season. The senior left-hander from Nesbit, Mississippi, allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits. Carlini, who fanned a pair and walked one, retired the final 12 batters he faced.
Northwestern State starter Evan Tidewll (4-2) earned the win, scattering two runs and five hits over 6.1 innings of work. Reliever Jeffrey Stovall picked up his first save of the season, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings to close out the game.
Fisher led all players, going 3-for-4 at the plate.
Southeastern continues its six-game road swing Tuesday in Mobile, Alabama, facing No. 28-ranked South Alabama at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field.
Northwestern State 3, Southeastern La. 2 (Apr 10, 2016 at Natchitoches, La.)
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Southeastern La........ 000 020 000 - 2 7 1 (25-8, 13-2 SLC)
Northwestern State... 011 100 00X - 3 8 1 (17-15, 8-7 SLC)
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Pitchers: Southeastern La. - Carlini, Domenick and Roberson, Sam. Northwestern State - Tidwell, Evan; Stovall, Jeffrey (7) and Richard, Kelsey.
Win-Tidwell, Evan (4-2) Save-Stovall, Jeffrey (1) Loss-Carlini, Domenick (4-1) T-2:11 A-681
Weather: 78, S wind at 15 mph
