Demons even series with UTPA

NATCHITOCHES - A botched play that sent Will Watson home followed by a sacrifice fly to score Nick Purdy gave the Northwestern State baseball team the go-ahead run in a 6-4 win over Texas-Pan American Saturday night in Brown-Stroud Field.

The rubber match will be played Sunday at 1 o'clock.

Down 4-3, Watson led off the seventh inning by getting hit by the pitch and Purdy laid down a sacrifice bunt when UTPA (2-4) catcher Chris Torres threw the ball into the right field bullpen allowing Watson to score and Purdy to get to third base.

Matt Baca hit the ball to deep centerfield to help Purdy give NSU (4-2) the go-ahead run.

"I think our guys played with some confidence today, and some energy," said head coach Lane Burroughs. "Yesterday (Friday night's 4-1 loss) was tough on us and they came back. I'm proud of the toughness they showed."

Ashton Sivigliano (1-0) grabbed the win while Guadalupe Barrera (0-1) took the loss. Cameron Brewer (1) got the save

NSU added an insurance run in the eighth when Purdy hit a ball to deep center field to score Toby Cornejo who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.

UTPA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, and NSU immediately answered when Watson was hit by a pitch and Purdy reached via error. Baca walked and Edwin Gomez lined a ball to the left field wall that scored Watson and Purdy.

NSU took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on a bunt single by Cornejo who scored after stealing second and Garrett Killgore singled down the left field line.

The Broncs grabbed the lead in the sixth inning on two runs and one hit.

Robert Baker got the start for the Demons and pitched five innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits.

Zach Krebs, Sivigliano, and Brewer all combined for four innings and allowed four hits and two runs.

UTPA went through five pitchers with Dusten Knight getting the start. He went four innings and gave up four hits and three runs (one earned).

Offensively, the Demons were led by Gomez who had two hits in three tries with two runs batted in. Killgore also had a two-hit ball game.

Tuesday opens up a 14-of-15 road stretch for the Demons when they take on Texas A&M at 6:35 at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.