NORTHWESTERN STATE EVENS SERIES WITH JACKS

Friday, March 18

Natchitoches, La.

6:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

5-11

Northwestern State

8-10

South Dakota State

Northwestern State

Photo by: Chris Reich

3/18/2022 10:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score BRACKETS THROUGH DAY 2

NATCHITOCHES, La. — Northwestern State scored four unearned runs in the late innings to down South Dakota State, 6-2, in nonconference baseball action Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field.

In evening the four-game series at a game apiece, NSU improved to 8-10 overall. The Jackrabbits dropped to 5-11 on the season.

With the game tied at 2-all, Northwestern State grabbed the lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth. Bryce Holmes, the first batter faced by SDSU reliever Ryan Bourassa, was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After moving up a base on a sacrifice bunt, Holmes scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error.

The Demons took advantage of another SDSU miscue to open the seventh inning as Cameron Parikh opening the inning by reaching on an error. After the next two NSU batters were retired, Gray Rowlett was hit by a pitch to set the stage for Bo Willis, who hit his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot to left-center that provided the final margin.

NSU had taken a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Broch Holmes and Jeffrey Elkins.

The Jackrabbits knotted the game with two unearned runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Ryan McDonald delivered an opposite-field single that plated Nic Nelson for the first run, with Derek Hackman scoring on an error for the other tally.

SDSU held an 8-5 advantage in hits as Hackman and McDonald each notched a pair of hits.

Jackrabbit starter Nic McCay struck out five and walked four in five innings as he wound up with a no-decision. Bourassa took the loss after tossing the final three innings with a pair of strikeouts.

NSU's Cal Carver fanned five and surrendered six hits over six innings en route to the victory. Dawson Flowers added four strikeouts in three shutout frames to record the save.

UP NEXT
The series is scheduled to conclude with a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. The twinbill will consist of two seven-inning games.

NOTES

The all-time series is tied at one game apiece
McDonald drove in a run for the fourth consecutive game and has all 12 of his RBIs this season in that span
McDonald also has 11 hits over the last four games — three three-hit games and a two-hit outing
Drew Beazley and Thatcher Kozal eached reached base safely for the sixth consecutive game
Reece Anderson stole a pair of bases to increase his team-leading total to five
McCay has 13 strikeouts in 11 innings over his last two starts