Box Score NATCHITOCHES -- Mason Melotakis' excellent pitching performance coupled with a four-run fifth inning capped by a Colin Bear two-run double led Northwestern State past Southeastern Louisiana 5-1 Friday in Southland Conference baseball action.
 
Melotakis (3-3), in getting his first start in a year-and-a-half, pitched 5.2 innings and gave up only one run on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts on his way to a win.
 
In the fifth, the Demons scored two when Kevin Sanford and Drew Helenihi both scored on separate wild pitches before Bear hit a double down the right field line to score Nick Hinojos and Will Watson. It was Bear's second and third run batted in of the game.
 
NSU improved to 16-24 overall, and evened out its conference record to 11-11 while SLU dropped to 28-15 for the season and 13-9 in the SLC.
 
“It was a great all-around effort,” said head coach J.P. Davis.  “They (SLU) got up in the first inning and we did a good job of answering.  I think once we tied it, Melo settled down and shook the nerves.”
 
Joseph Koon (3-2) took the loss for the Lions on four innings pitched and allowed three runs on five hits and one walk.
 
SLU struck first scoring their only run in opening frame when Harry Slade singled through the left side and scored on a Brock Hebert double.
 
Northwestern State answered with one in the bottom half of the inning when Helenihi singled to the left side to push his consecutive games on base streak to 23, the longest of any other Demon this season.
 
He was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Will Watson and moved to third on a deep fly ball to right field. Bear knocked him in when he singled down the right field line.
 
Kevin Sanford was hit by a pitch to open up the fifth inning followed by two bunt singles from Mitch Huckabay and Helenihi.
 
Jason Greenleaf was called from the bullpen to get out of a bases loaded jam, but unloaded the first wild pitch to score Sanford and walked Will Watson. 
 
After Hinojos reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases again, Greenleaf threw another wild pitch to get Helenihi across the plate.
 
Colin Bear quickly unloaded the bases with a double down the right field line to score Watson and Hinojos.
 
“We did a great job in the fifth working the count and getting some guys on,” said Davis.  “We took advantage of some wild pitches to score a couple of runs and then Bear got the big blow.”
 
Joe Scanio was called on for relief in the sixth and pitched 2.1 innings. He gave up no runs on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
 
“Scanio came in and did a great job,” said Davis.  “He got into a little trouble there but we went to Goldie (Carson Goldsmith) who turned it up a couple of notches.”
 
Goldsmith was brought in the game with a man on first and no outs in the ninth inning and allowed a walk and struck a man out to seal the win.
 
Offensively, the Demons were led by Helenihi who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Bear who went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
 
The second game of the series will be played at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon and the finale set at 1 Sunday. Jacob Roark (2-4, 5.10 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the Demons facing Jordan Hymel (2-0, 2.06)