Box Score CONWAY, Ark. – Steven Spann pitched a no-hitter through 7.1 innings and finished off a complete game against No. 22 Sam Houston, the league's top offensive team, in an elimination game at the Southland Conference Tournament to lead the Northwestern State baseball team to a 4-1 win at Bear Stadium on Friday morning.
 
The Demons (33-25) will face Southeastern Louisiana at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon.  NSU will have to win two games against the Lions to advance to the championship game.  With a win, the Demons and SLU would square off at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning.  With a loss, the Demons would be eliminated.
 
The No. 1 seed Sam Houston (41-17) was eliminated from the tournament.
 
Spann started off quick and retired the side in the first inning on seven pitches. He started off the second inning with two outs on two pitches, but loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. A runner reached in the third on an error, but a double play erased that and ended the inning.
 
The right-handed senior retired the side in order, two on strikeouts.  He gave up a walk in the fourth inning, but stranded the Bearkat at first base.  Two runners reached in the seventh on two walks, but two fly outs ended that frame. 
 
"I didn't really figure out that I had a (no-hitter) going until about the seventh inning. Guys were just away from me in the dugout, and people were like, 'don't talk to him.' I told them I was fine, and asking why they were avoiding me," said Spann. "They were definitely avoiding me, wanting me to stay focused throughout the game."
 
The eighth inning was where Sam Houston broke up the no-hitter on a home run to right field from Bearkat first baseman Ryan O'Hearn.  Southland Player of the Year Anthony Azar reached on a single on the left side of the infield, and advanced to third on a double down the left field line from Corey Toups.   Both runners were stranded on a ground ball in the next at-bat.
 
"We would not be where we are (this season) without Steven. Quite frankly, he had been struggling lately," said Burroughs. "I have been doing this for 20 years, and I have never been as proud of a young man as I am of Steven Spann right now."
 
Spann allowed a runner on a single up the middle by Ryan Farney and took second on a ground out, but was stranded there when Spann struck out Luke Plucheck to end the game.
 
NSU used three-run eighth inning to give Spann some cushion. Nick Heath, who reached on a single through the right side, scored on a sacrifice fly to center field from Edwin Gomez.  Lyons took second base after C.J. Webster was hit by a pitch, and advanced to third when Joel Atkinson reached on an error when he tried to give himself up.
 
Webster and Atkinson moved up a bag when Bret Underwood grounded out to the right side, and scored on a single up the middle by Caleb Dugas.
 
The game's first run was scored when Nick Heath was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  Cort Brinson, who started the inning with a hit by pitch, took second base on a single through the left side and third on when Lyons reached on a fielder's choice.
 
Jason Simms (5-3) held the Demon offense to one base runner from the third frame until the eighth, but took the loss in seven innings pitched.  He allowed three hits and gave up four runs (two earned) with four strikeouts and no walks.  Ryan Brinley relieved him and finished the game on two scoreless innings.
 
Both teams finished the game with four hits.  The Demons had hits from Gomez, Dugas, Daughdrill and Heath.
 
Northwestern State has played four games against Southeastern Louisiana this season, three during the regular season and one during the tournament.  The Lions took two of three in the regular season, and knocked the Demons into the loser's bracket on Wednesday.
 
"Our guys are excited about playing. You run on adrenaline this time of year on days like this. We will be ready," said Burroughs.  "I know Southeastern will be ready to rock and roll, and we will be ready, as well."