NACOGDOCHES, Texas-Northwestern State used a seven-run fifth inning to pull away from ULM and take a 12-4 victory in the final game of the SFA Lumberjack Classic at Jaycees Field on Sunday.
The Demons (4-2) took advantage of six walks in the opening two innings by ULM starter James Jones to take a 3-0 lead despite recording just one hit. The lead swelled to 5-1 after three innings before the Warhawks (2-3) mounted a comeback with three runs in the fifth.
Caleb Clowers started the rally with his second RBI of the game on an infield single to score Judd Edwards. The next two runs came when Nick Wade was hit by a pitch and Matt Laird was walked with the bases loaded as the Warhawks closed the gap to 5-4.
Clowers led the Warhawks at the plate going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Edwards was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in his first career start. Laird and closer Wil Browning were named to the All-Tournament team for the Warhawks.
The Demons responded with seven-unearned runs in their half of the fifth inning. It looked like ULM relief pitcher Stefan Comeaux was going to be able to work around the lead-off error with limited damage as he got the next two batters to ground out with just one run on the board. However, the Demons put together five hits over the course of the inning to plate six more runs and put the game out of reach.
Trent Grondin had a pair of hits and drove in three runs to lead NSU at the dish, while three other Demon players recorded a pair of hits.
Mathias Simmons (1-0) picked up the win for the Demons despite pitching just two-thirds of an inning and allowing a walk. Northwestern State starter Heath Hennigan allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits over 4.1 innings of work.
Jones (0-1) took the loss for the Warhawks allowing three runs on one hit in 1.2 innings of work. He struggled mightily with his control walking the six batters, but he did record three strikeouts.
The Warhawks conclude their season-opening road swing with a trip to No. 21 Southern Miss on Wednesday night. ULM will be looking for its third straight win over the Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park. First pitch has been moved back from its originally scheduled 5 p.m. time to 6:30 p.m.
