Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WESTWEGO --  Two runs batted in and scored by freshman Cort Brinson helped the Northwestern State baseball team defeat Nicholls State 7-2 in the nightcap of a Saturday twin-bill in Southland Conference action.

Nicholls State (24-27, 7-16 SLC) broke a 3-3 tie in the 12th inning and defeated the Demons (15-36, 4-19 SLC) 4-3 in the first game.   The rubber match is scheduled for 3 o'clock on Sunday afternoon in Westwego.

Cort Brinson drew a bases loaded walk in the first inning of game two after Nicholls starting pitcher Taylor Byrd (5-6) gave up a single to Edwin Gomez, walk to Nick Purdy, and hit Todd Wallace.

The Demons added a second run in that inning when Nathan Lyons hit a sacrifice fly to center field one batter later.

Brinson hit his third homer run of the season in the third inning over the left field wall to make it a 3-1 game.  Nicholls scored in the second inning on a double to left field from Philip Lyons that scored Tyler Duplantis from first base.

The four-run eighth started opened when Brinson drew a leadoff walk from Nicholls pitcher Grant Borne.  Borne was lifted for Chris Miller who promptly walked Nathan Lyons.  After an error by Miller to put Jake Clouatre on first, he was replaced by Jordan McCoy who gave up a sacrifice fly to right field from Garrett Killgore.

Three batters later Will Watson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Clouatre.

McCoy was taken out of the game for Zach Thiac who gave up a 2-2 single to right field from Nick Purdy that scored Edwin Gomez and Matt Burns.  Gomez was walked and Burns reached on a fielder's choice.

Cody Butler (3-4) grabbed the win on a stellar 8.2 innings pitched with only two runs scored and six strikeouts. He worked into trouble in the ninth inning when he loaded the bases, and Cameron Brewer came in to seal the win. 
 
Byrd pitched six innings and allowed three runs on six hits and four walks.

Keith Cormier ended game one when he singled to right field and scored Matt Richard from second base.

Richard reached on a fielder's choice after beating out the back end of a double-play ball and advanced to second when Leo Vargas singled through the right side.

Northwestern State scored first in the second inning on a sacrifice fly to left field by Matt Burns to score Brinson, who opened the inning with a leadoff walk.

Nicholls answered with three in the bottom of the second frame.  David Zorn delivered the big blow with a two-run single to center field that scored Philip Lyons and Mike Barba.

Brandon Jackson knocked in the third run in the inning on a bases loaded walk to send Cody Dunfrene to the plate.

The Demons scored two in the fifth inning on a Clouatre two-run home run to left field that scored Burns from first base one at-bat after he singled to right field.
 
Matt Farmer (0-1) took the loss after coming into the game in the third inning and working 9.1 innings.  He allowed the go-ahead score in the 12^th frame.  Robert Baker started the game for Northwestern State, but allowed three runs in two innings.
 
Langston (1-3) got the win for Nicholls after coming in to relieve Delange who worked 11 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits.



Brinson was two-for-seven on the day with three walks, three runs, and two RBI. Gomez was four-of-nine with two runs scored.