Box Score NATCHITOCHES – Tied at two in the seventh inning, Colt Atwood's two-run single up the middle sparked the Sam Houston State offense to three straight multi-run innings that led the Bearkats past the Northwestern State baseball team 11-2 Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference action.
 
The Bearkats (26-17, 11-6 SLC) tied the game in the seventh inning when Jessie Plumlee singled though the left side to score Romeo Cortina. Up to that point, the Demons (11-32, 2-15 SLC) had led the entire game.
 
Atwood's single up the middle scored Plumlee and Ryan Farney.
 
SHSU added two more in the eighth inning that led off with a double down the left field line by Kevin Miller. He scored on a bunt-single and error by Ashton Sivigliano from Carter Burrgess. Burgess took second base on a wild pitch and scored when Cortina singled to left field.
 
The Bearkats finished the game with five runs in the ninth inning. Anthony Azar doubled to right center to score Atwood from third. After back-to-back hit by pitches to Luke Plucheck and Miller that loaded the bases, Burgess hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Azar.
 
Hayden Simerly added two more with a two-run double to left center field, and Cortina added the final run with a single through the left side.
 
Cody Dickson (6-4) took the win on four scoreless, relief innings with one hit and four strikeouts. Tyler Eppler got the start for SHSU and worked five innings with two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks.
 
Demon starter Cody Butler (2-3) got the loss on 6.1 innings. He allowed four runs on eight hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. Sivigliano, A.J. Funk, and Andrew Adams combined for two innings and seven runs on six hits.
 
The Demons jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Toby Cornejo singled through the left side to score Nathan Lyons and Edwin Gomez. Lyons reached on a single to left field and, and Gomez singled to right field advanced to second on an error by Farney.
 
Sam Houston scored its first run on home run to left center field by Azar.
 
Cornjeo was the leader at the plate for the Demons with a hit in four at-bats and two runs batted in. Lyons was two-for-three with a run scored.
 
Atwood, Azar, Simerly, and Cortina all had two RBI, including Azar who was two-of-four with two runs scored. Cortina was three-for-five with a run scored.
 
The final game of the series is on Sunday at 1 o'clock.