By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; photos by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – It took the Northwestern State baseball team 22 innings of its series against Lamar until a Demon pitcher threw a pitch with a lead.
Once the Northwestern offense gave Trent Hillen an advantage, the junior right-hander did not let go.
Hillen allowed one unearned run in six-plus strong innings and the Demons scored in their final four at-bats to grab a 7-3 victory at Brown-Stroud Field and secure their fourth straight Southland Conference series win at home.
“We talked at Houston Christian last week about holding momentum,” second-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “When you look at Friday’s and Saturday’s ball games, the idea we were able to create momentum and then hold momentum is the story of how those two days played out. We feel convicted in the fact we have a talented baseball team. We feel convicted in the fact our guys know how to execute great baseball. Sometimes the idea that we have to create momentum and hold it is paramount for the results we are looking for.”
Hillen (6-1) built on the momentum of Friday night’s walk-off, 10th-inning win, holding Lamar (32-10, 13-8) scoreless through four innings. A junior from Morgan City, Hillen needed just 15 pitches to navigate the first two innings.
He had some help in the second as shortstop Samuel Stephenson turned a 6-3 double play on a sinking line drive to erase a leadoff single. It was the first of two double plays turned by the Demons (24-17, 15-9), who entered the weekend 22ndnationally in that category.
With Hillen cruising, the Demon offense broke through in the third inning, taking advantage of a pair of hit by pitches and a run-scoring wild pitch by Lamar right-hander Carter Sutton (5-1).
Balin Valentine delivered the biggest swing of the inning, an RBI double to straightaway center field – one of his two hits on the day.
“It was nice to be able to respond like that,” Valentine said. “We had our back against the wall, and we needed a series win against a team ahead of us in the standings. I think I saw one fastball – and that was in the dirt. It got to 3-2, and I knew he had to throw something over the plate, and I was ready.”
Hillen continued to roll, giving the Demons back-to-back six-inning starts from himself and Tyler Bryan. Those two combined to allow two unearned runs in 12 innings in the final two games of the series, helping the Demons recover from an 8-2 loss in Thursday’s series opener.
Hillen pounded the strike zone relentlessly, throwing 52 of his 76 pitches for strikes while scattering seven hits.
“I started the game saying, ‘I’m just going to throw it down the middle, and whatever happens, happens,’” Hillen said. “Obviously, their bloop hits didn’t affect us. Great team, but getting early runs helps us a lot. It got me comfortable and back into the game.”
While the Demons won their fourth straight home Southland series, it marked the first time this season for Northwestern to rally back for a series win after dropping the opening game.
Previously, the Demons posted sweeps of UIW and Nicholls at home before splitting the first two games of the April 4-6 series against UTRGV.
“Complementary baseball, responsive nature – all of the characteristics we want to be about,” Bertrand said. “We said it (Friday), but that’s a special group of people right there. The way they continue to do things – not just play quality baseball or succeed from a results standpoint – but the way they continue to do things, there are special things in line for those guys in life not just the rest of the season.”
The Demons return to action Tuesday when they travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.
Northwestern State 7, Lamar 3
LU 000 010 011 – 3 10 2
NSU 002 011 12x – 7 9 1
W – Trent Hillen (6-1). L – Carter Sutton (5-1). S – Wesley Marien (2). 2B – LU, Zane Spinn. NSU, Balin Valentine, Mason Wray. HR – LU, Damian Ruiz (6), Reese Beheler (3). Highlights: LU, Ruiz 2-3, HR, RBI; Beheler 2-3, HR, RBI. NSU, Rocco Gump 3-4, RBI; Valentine 2-4, 2B, RBI; Wray 2-4, 2B, RBI.
Records: Lamar 32-10, 13-8; Northwestern State 24-17, 15-9.
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