NATCHITOCHES – The McNeese State baseball team dealt Northwestern State a two-run deficit early in Friday night's Southland Conference series opener but was unable to recover from six unanswered runs by the Demons who went on to score a 6-4 win over the Cowboys at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
The Cowboys (16-10, 6-4 SLC) were aided by a two-run dinger from junior Connor Crane in the third at-bat of the game following a single from freshman Joe Provenzano. The homer was Crane's third on the season and 14^th total for the team.
 
Northwestern State (15-10, 7-2 SLC) responded in the bottom of the frame as Cort Brinson blasted a three-run bomb over the left center wall that helped dig the Demons out of a two-run hole and go up by one run.
 
Two more runs were tacked on by the Demons in the third frame that propelled them to a three run lead over the Cowboys. An insurance run in the fourth allowed Northwestern State to stymy an offensive attack from McNeese.
 
The Pokes managed a run in the top of the seventh inning as sophomore Matt Gallier led off the frame with a double down the left field line and was knocked in by a single from senior Andrew Guillotte to cut the lead to three runs.
 
McNeese attempted one last shot at a comeback in the ninth inning as Guillotte was able to reach base on a base hit and moved to second on a stolen base. On the next play, Crane singled into left and was advanced to second on a throwing error while Guillotte slid into home to cut the lead to just two runs.
 
However, the Pokes were unable to string together another offensive attack and despite a last inning rally, fell to the Demons, 6-4.
 
Starting pitcher Kaleb Fontenot was charged with the loss after having surrendered five runs off of eight hits and five walks in four innings of work on Friday. He struck out two in the process.

Reliever Tyler Day worked three innings for the Pokes and gave up only three hits and no runs.
 
Tyler Erickson and Jacob Williams combined to toss the last innings and surrendered no hits and no runs.
 
Four Cowboys turned in multiple-hit performances and were led on the evening by Crane who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Guillotte, Gallier and junior Lewis Guilbeau also recorded two hits. The multi-hit game was Guillotte's 15^th of the season while Crane turned in his 10^th two-hitter on the year.
 
Guillotte's stolen base was the 68^th of his career and he now stands just one swipe away from tying for second-place all-time. He is 10 away from tying for first place.
 
McNeese will be back in action on Saturday as the Cowboys take on Northwestern State in game two of the weekend series. The game is slated to begin at 2 o'clock and will be broadcast on Cajun Radio 1470-AM and on CajunRadio.com

Fans can also keep up with all of the action with in-game updates on Twitter by following @McNeeseBaseball.
 
 
Northwestern State 6, McNeese 4 (Mar 27, 2015 at Natchitoches, La.)
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McNeese............. 200 000 101  -  4 10  1      (16-10, 6-4 SLC)
Northwestern State.. 302 100 00X  -  6 12  2      (15-10, 7-2 SLC)
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Pitchers: McNeese - Fontenot, Kaleb; Day, Tyler(5); Erickson, Tyler(8); Williams, Jacob(8) and
Toole, Cameron; LaRosa, Garrett. Northwestern State - Oller, A.; Smith, B.(9) and Logan, G..
Win-Oller, A.(4-1)  Save-Smith, B.(5)  Loss-Fontenot, Kaleb(3-3)  T-2:53  A-423
HR MCN - Crane, Connor (3).
HR NWLA - Brinson, C. (3).
Weather: 64 and clear