Box Score NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State used two home runs and stranded five McNeese runners in scoring position as the Demons defeated the Cowboys, 5-2, on Thursday night in game one of a Southland Conference baseball series.
 
The series will resume on Friday night at 6:30 on ESPN+.
 
The loss dropped the Cowboys' record to 31-14 overall and 18-10 in league play while NSU, who won for the sixth straight time, improved to 32-18 and 18-10. Lamar, who defeated HCU 10-0, is also 18-10 in the conference forcing a three-way tie for third place in the league standings with two games remaining.
 
The three are chasing Southeastern for a chance to host a league opening round tournament bracket. The Lions were walloped by Nicholls, 13-0, on Thursday night and have a two-game lead over the trio of teams.
 
Pitchers of Record:
W – Carter White, NSU (4-1) | 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
L – Cooper Golden, McN (3-3) | 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO

S - Dylan Marionneaux, NSU (1) | 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

 
At the Plate:
Mack Brousseau 2-4, 2 2B, R
Grant Mangrum 2-3, BB

Scoring Summary:
• Bottom 1 – Back-to-back one-out singles by the Demons led to a run scored on a RBI fielder's choice by Bralin Valentine. NSU 1-0.
• Bottom 4 – Valentine hit a one-out triple then scored on a two-out single by Brooks Leonard. NSU 2-0.
• Top 6 – Mack Brousseau led-off with a double and advanced to third on a one-out grounder by Larry Edwards Jr. Easton Dowell drove in Brousseau with a single to the right side. NSU 2-1.
• Bottom 6 – Bryce Johnson led-off with a solo home run. NSU 3-1.
• Top 7 – Connor Schneider led things off with a double and Grant Mangrum moved him over on a single to right field. Schneider scored as a result of a double play ball. NSU 3-2.
• Bottom 7 – Samuel Stephenson hit a one-out, solo home run down the right field line. NSU 4-2.
 
Missed Opportunities:
• Top 3 – McNeese had runners on 1^st and 2^nd with one out but a fly out to center field was followed by ground out to second as the Cowboys left two runners stranded, one in scoring position.
• Top 4 – Mack Brousseau led off with a double and advanced to third on a one-out fly out. He would be left stranded following an infield pop-up.
• Top 5 – Back-to-back two-out singles by Grant Mangrum and Conner Westenburg put a runner in scoring position for the third straight inning, but for the third consecutive time, the Cowboys were unable to get the timely hit to score a run, leaving them stranded on second and third.
• Top 7 – McNeese had runners on first and third with no outs but only got one run out of the inning after a double play helped kill the rally.

Gameday Notebook
• Mack Brousseau hit two doubles in a game for the first time this season.
• Conner Westenburg's 5^th inning single extended his reached base streak to 35 consecutive games.
• With three doubles, it's the 19^th time this season McNeese has recorded three or more doubles in a game.
• McNeese left seven runners on base, five in scoring position.