Box Score NATCHITOCHES, La. – Northwestern State pitchers worked around a late-inning rally by Louisiana Tech on Tuesday night, but the Demons eventually clinched a 3-1 midweek victory over the Bulldogs at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches.
 
Louisiana Tech found itself trailing Northwestern State 1-0 after three innings of play on Tuesday evening, but could never cut into the Demons' lead, which was eventually stretched to three following a pair of errors in the eighth inning.
 
The Bulldogs' lone run came in the top of the ninth when Steele Netterville was hit by a pitch with two outs and then came home to score on an RBI triple to right-center by Chris Clayton.
 
Louisiana Tech fell to 28-17 overall on the season, while Northwestern State improved to 26-18.
 
LA Tech starter Logan Robbins (3-3) was charged with the loss after giving up the lone unearned run off four hits, while striking out five and walking none in six full innings. Tyler Follis came on in relief in the seventh and allowed two runs – one earned – on a hit and two walks in 1.1 innings of work. Lefty David Leal closed out the game for the Bulldogs, facing the final batter and forcing Northwestern State into an inning-ending double play.
 
Northwestern State starter Jerry Maddox picked up the win for the Demons after shutting out the Bulldogs in 5.2 innings of work, while allowing just three hits, striking out four and walking three. David Hodo earned his first save of the year for NSU after pitching the final 3.1 innings, allowing one run on a hit and striking out three.
 
The Demons struck first in the bottom half of the third when Sam Taylor doubled down the right field line and took third base on a fielding error by Mason Robinson. An ensuing groundout allowed Northwestern State to take a 1-0 lead after the plate umpire ruled that Taylor slid around the tag from Chris Clayton at the plate.
 
LA Tech had a golden opportunity to bounce back the next half inning after loading the bases on a single by Young and a pair of walks, but Clayton went down looking to retire the side and strand three Bulldogs on the base paths.
 
In the fifth, Robinson began the frame with a leadoff walk and later reached third after a 1-out single by Hunter Wells to give LA Tech runners on the corners. The inning would end soon after when Young fouled out to shallow right field in a play that turned into a double play when Robinson was thrown out at the plate after tagging from third base.
 
Northwestern State starter Jerry Maddox held LA Tech hitters to just three base knocks over the first 5.2 inning before being relieved by David Hodo with two away in the inning. Hodo wasted no time retiring the side after inducing an inning-ending ground ball by Steele Netterville to keep it a 1-0 deficit by the Bulldogs.
 
Tanner Huddleston attempted to tie the game in the top of the sixth when the senior blasted a ball to deep left field, but the Northwestern State leftfielder made a highlight-reel catch at the wall for the second out of the inning.
 
Northwestern State extended the lead in the eighth after Nunez was hit by a pitch on a 3-2 count from Follis and eventually went to second on a sacrifice bunt. After intentionally walking Ricca, Elkins drove in the Demons' second run of the night on an RBI single to right field.
 
After another intentional walk in the eighth, the Demons added another run after a ground ball to first base resulted in LA Tech's fourth error of the game following an errant throw home by Mallard.
 
Clayton drove in LA Tech's only run of the game with his RBI triple in the ninth, while LA Tech's top three hitters in the order – Wells, Young and Mallard – also provided base knocks in the loss.
 
LA Tech will continue its nine-game road stretch this weekend when the Bulldogs travel to take on Old Dominion in Conference USA action. The three-game series begins at 5 p.m. CT on Friday at Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk, Virginia.
 
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