RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team owned a 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning, but the visiting Northwestern State Demons struck for five runs on six hits in the final frame, eventually taking an 8-4 triumph on Tuesday evening from J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
 
The game was all knotted at three heading into the eighth, before the Bulldogs (9-3) surged ahead. After holding the Demons (6-4) off the board in the top of the frame, Mason Mallard ignited the bottom half of the inning for the 'Dogs. The senior first baseman worked a one-out walk, and then swiped second, moving into scoring position for Steele Netterville. The sophomore wasted no time in driving a pitch through the left side, plating Mallard from second as the go-ahead, 4-3 run.
 
With the one-run edge, Tech called on junior left-handed pitcher Kyle Griffen to make his eighth appearance of the young season. The Demons greeted the southpaw with three consecutive singles, loading the bases with nobody out. Pinch hitter Austin Stegall then drove a seeing-eye single through the right side, plating Larson Fontenot, tying the game at four.
 
The Demons were not done, as the ensuing batter, Hilton Brown laced a two-RBI single to right, giving Northwestern State a 6-4 lead. Tech junior RHP junior Dane Kapande entered the game for Griffen and immediately got a groundout to third for the first out of the lengthy inning. After an intentional walk to Tyler Smith loaded the bases and put the double play in order, Northwestern struck for two more on another two-RBI double – this one from Caleb Ricca, extending the visitor's lead to 8-4.
 
Tech would put together a min rally in the ninth, loading the bases for Mason Mallard with two outs, but NSU reliever Jose Vasquez buckled down and got the first baseman swinging, ending the game.
 
NSU reliever Tyler Pigott (1-1) picked up the win, tossing the final two outs of the eighth inning, while Griffen (2-1) was charged with his first loss and did not record an out.
 
The Bulldogs staked an early lead over the Demons, getting to starter Cullen McDonald for two in the first and one in the second. However, the right-hander settled in and made it through five scoreless innings. McDonald picked up the no decision, going 7.0 innings, allowing six hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out four and walking none.
 
Tech starter Bryce Fagan was impressive in his first four innings of work. The right-handed Jones County JC transfer retired the first 12 batters of the game before giving up a solo home run to J.P. Lagreco, cutting the Tech lead to 3-1. Then, the Tech starter plunked two consecutive batters and walked a third to load the bases with nobody out. Beau Billings entered in relief and allowed a pair of runs (both charged to Fagan) on an RBI single and a bases loaded balk, tying the game at three.
 
The Bulldogs will hit the road, taking on No. 15 Arkansas in a three-game set beginning this Friday at 6 p.m. from Fayetteville, Arkansas.