NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State returned from an impressive two-game trip at nationally ranked Arkansas with a sluggish performance in a 5-3 loss to Southern on Friday night in the first of a three-game college baseball series.

NSU (1-3) gave up four runs in the first three innings, two of those earned, and never really got anything going offensively. But when it did, it was quickly squashed by double plays.

“Just a poor outing by us tonight,” said head coach J.P. Davis. “We didn't come out ready to play. But give Southern credit, they came ready to play and their pitcher did a great job of sticking in the strike zone.”

Jesse Holliday (2-0) notched his second straight win for the Jaguars (3-2) after he gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits in five innings. Josh Powell threw four innings to get his first save of the season and gave up one run on three hits.

For the Demons, starting pitcher Joe Scanio (1-1) suffered his first loss in his career as a Demon but tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work. He allowed eight hits, four runs, two earned, and walked just one batter.

“Joe wasn't bad tonight but he was overthrowing,” said Davis. “He did a good job of settling in later in the game.”

NSU trailed 4-0 after three innings but got runs back in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the margin to 4-2.

The Demons got leadoff batters on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, only to see the potential rallies cut short with identical 643 double plays.

Southern got a run back in the eighth inning to go up 5-2 but the Demons rallied in the ninth and a potential game-tying hit was snatched to end the game.

Josh Gardiner led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and after top of the order hitter Jordan Buckley fouled out to the catcher, Will Watson doubled to put runners at second and third. Colin Bear came in to pinch hit for the Demons and flied out to shallow center field for the second out of the inning. Nick Purdy followed with a RBI single to score Gardiner and cut the lead to 5-3. With runners on the corners, Nick Doughty blasted a fly ball to deep center field but Southern center fielder Wilmy Marrero made a running, over-the-should grab to end the game.

The Demons finished with eight hits in the game, led by Purdy's 2-for-2 performance. Watson added a 2-for-5 game and had a triple to go along with his double.

The Jaguars put 13 hits on the board with designated hitter Caleb Hatcher going 4-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.

The two teams will be back in action on Saturday with the first pitch slated for 2 p.m.

NOTE: The Demons played without starting shortstop Matt Burns who turned his ankle on the infield turf during pregame batting practice. Also, starting second baseman Ray Frias left the game in the second inning when he drove at a hard hit grounder in shallow right field.