By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
TROY, Alabama – Given numerous chances to take advantage of free bases and free base runners, the Northwestern State baseball team could not convert in Sunday’s series finale at No. 24 Troy.
The homestanding Trojans, however, had no such issues.
Troy repeatedly capitalized on Demon walks and turned them into a 14-4 run-rule victory at Riddle-Pace Field to complete a three-game sweep of the non-conference series.
“This is not one we’re proud of,” second-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “I didn’t think we competed in a way that showed a willingness to change. We have talked about the things that are ailing us and the things that are in our way that are going to make us a better team. Today, we did not compete with an intent to act upon and fix those things.”
The Demons (2-4) fell behind early as Troy (6-1) strung together a two-out rally against Northwestern starter Trent Hillen (1-1) in the first inning that culminated with Dillon Kuehl’s two-out RBI single.
An inning later, Sean Darnell’s three-run home run gave the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
That advantage proved to be enough for left-hander Drew Nelson (1-0), who faced the minimum through three innings and kept the Demons scoreless for five thanks to a couple of double plays, including an inning-ending twin killing in the fourth after Northwestern loaded the bases with one out.
Nelson kept the Demons hitless for 4 2-3 innings before freshman Hudson Brignac lined a double down the right field line. Northwestern did not score against Nelson until Braden Benton’s one-out double in the sixth inning started a two-run frame.
After Clay Jung’s RBI single cut the lead to 7-2, the Trojans answered with two runs of their own in the sixth, taking advantage of four walks in the inning – two with the bases loaded.
“We’ve got to go back to the drawing board as an entire team and make a concerted effort to fix the things that have been a thorn in our side,” Bertrand said. “If we don’t, they are going to keep us from being the best version of ourselves. Today, we were not the best version of Demon baseball. That falls on me to a certain degree, but we are going to have to go back and work on our weaknesses, which are anchoring us down.”
While the Trojans converted seven of the 12 walks they drew into runs, the Demons did not cash in a free base runner until the seventh when Rocco Gump’s two-run single scored Reese Lipoma and Samuel Stephenson, who had reached via a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively.
The Demons return to action Tuesday when they host Southern-New Orleans in their first midweek game of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.
No. 24 Troy 14, Northwestern State 4
NSU 000 002 2 – 4 5 1
Troy 130 032 5 – 14 14 0
W – Drew Nelson (1-0). L – Trent Hillen (1-1). 2B – NSU, Braden Benton, Hudson Brignac. Troy, Steven Meier, Dillon Kuehl. HR – Troy, Sean Darnell (3), Brooks Bryan (1). Highlights: Troy, Meier 2-4, 2B; Darnell 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Bryan 3-5, HR, 4 RBIs; Kuehl 3-4, 2B, 3 RBIs; Peyton Watts 2-4, RBI.
Records: Northwestern State 2-4; Troy 6-1.
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