Box Score NATCHITOCHES – Mackenzie Handel picked up four RBI en route to a 7-5 Southland Conference win for Stephen F. Austin over the Northwestern State baseball team Saturday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field.

The Demons dropped to 11-10 overall, 3-2 in the Southland with the loss, as the Jacks improved to 10-11, 2-3.

"I thought both teams really competed today, and we had two good teams going at each other," said second-year head coach Lane Burroughs. "Championships are won on Sunday, which is something we talk about in our program, so tomorrow we have to come out and find a way to win the series. We're swinging the bats well and we're playing loose, so we're playing good. Sometimes you play well and you lose."

Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first, NSU's Joel Atkinson reached on a single to right field, and was driven home off a double to left from Chase Dugas, tying the game at one.

SFA built a lead throughout the game by scoring single runs in three more innings, and used a three-run surge in the second, including two of Handel's four RBI, to tie the three-game series.

The Demons notched two runs in both the third and fifth innings in an attempt to combat the Jacks' lead throughout the game.

With two runners on in the third, Chase Daughdrill and Brett Underwood sent single runners home as they sent back-to-back sacrifice flies to right and center field, respectively.

In the fifth, Regan Kaufman singled to right center with the bases loaded, allowing two runs to score and pick up two RBI, and force an SFA pitching change, subbing Jarred Greene for starter Dillon Mangham.

The Jacks put up one more run in the sixth to cap scoring on the day.

Cort Brinson led from the plate with a 4-for-5 performance and one RBI, followed by Dugas and Edwin Gomez both at 2-for-5, and Kaufmann at 1-for-3 and two RBI.

John Gault (2-2) suffered the loss, giving up four runs and five hits in two complete innings on the rubber. Brandon Smith and Joey Parrack combined for three innings of work, allowing five total hits and three runs. Andrew Adams entered in the sixth after SFA scored its last run and threw four innings, giving up just two hits and holding the Jacks scoreless.

"I thought Andrew Adams came in and gave us a shot with his arm," said Burroughs. "He threw really well, giving up just two hits in four innings, and gave us a chance to win the game."


The Demons host Stephen F. Austin on Sunday at one o'clock in the final game of the series at Brown-Stroud Field before heading to in-state foe Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday for a 6:00 start. NSU travels to Sam Houston State on Friday for its next Southland Conference series, beginning at 6:30 at Don Sanders Stadium.