By Jason Pugh, Louisiana Tech Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSu Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – This time, the storybook late-inning ending did not happen for the Northwestern State baseball team.
Having rallied for late-game victories twice in its past three home games, the Demons could not summon another rally and dropped a 5-2 decision to visiting ULM on Tuesday night at Brown-Stroud Field.
“We didn’t do anything offensively to create pressure throughout the ball game,” second-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “We didn’t find productivity in the moments that we did have, and I thought it just felt like we were struggling and pressing. It didn’t feel like the type of offense we have come to expect from this group, but it’s a learning opportunity.”
In a bullpen game for both teams, the Warhawks (16-18) were able to scratch out enough runs against a group of six Northwestern pitchers while six ULM pitchers made them stand up.
The bulk relievers for each side – Holden Hess (1-0) of ULM and Adam Alexis of Northwestern – typified the hold the pitching staffs had on both offenses.
After the Demons (20-14) tied the game on a run-scoring wild pitch in the first, Samuel Stephenson led off the NSU second with a double and scored on Hudson Brignac’s groundout against Hess.
Across the next three innings, Hess retired nine of the next 10 hitters with only Lipoma reaching on an infield single in the fifth.
In that time, the Warhawks scratched out a pair of runs against Kaden McCoy (0-1) in the third.
Hess and Alexis held the game at 3-2 until the seventh when ULM’s Isaiah Walker homered for the third time in two games, connecting on a two-run shot to left field.
Walker’s swing loomed larger and larger in the final two innings as Jacob LeBlanc and Austin Anderson closed out the game with a pair of scoreless relief innings for the Demons.
“One of the things we talked about was all five of their base runners that crossed home plate were earned,” Bertrand said. “Those were hits. We did a good job tonight of turning the corner and limiting some self-infliction, and we truly made them earn it. That’s obviously very positive, and it’s all things that whether it be the guys who start the ball game or the guys who come in out of the bullpen, we can learn about it and use it going into the weekend.”
Northwestern began to pressure the back end of the ULM bullpen, loading the bases in the seventh against Brandon Brewer before Brewer escaped.
The Demons had two runners aboard in the eighth inning with one out before Landon Grigg struck out a pair of batters.
Northwestern had one more chance, starting the ninth inning with back-to-back singles from Brignac and Reese Lipoma. A two-out walk to Braden Benton – his third of the game – loaded the bases before ULM second baseman Kade Dupont ranged to left to take a potential RBI single from Clay Jung and end the game.
The Demons return to action Friday when they open a three-game Southland Conference series at league-leading Houston Christian. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Husky Field.
ULM 5, Northwestern State 2
ULM 102 000 200 – 5 9 0
NSU 110 000 000 – 2 6 2
W – Holden Hess (1-0). L – Kaden McCoy (0-1). S – Landon Grigg (1). 2B – ULM, Henry Garcia Jr. NSU, Samuel Stephenson. HR – ULM, Isaiah Walker (4). Highlights: ULM, Walker 2-5, HR, 2 RBIs; Colby Lunsford 2-5; Bryce Blaser 2-3. NSU, Reese Lipoma 2-4; Stephenson 2-4, 2B.
Records: ULM 16-18; Northwestern State 20-14.
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