Box Score HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The third inning Tuesday night was a study in contrasts.
 
After Northwestern State did not score after loading the bases with no outs, Sam Houston State responded with six two-out runs in its half of the third, setting the tone for the Bearkats' 8-5 victory at Don Sanders Stadium.
 
"The story of the game is we have bases loaded with no outs and don't score," third-year head coach Lane Burroughs said. "We line out, so I don't have a problem with that. Then we hit into a double play that (David) Fry hit hard. They put up a six spot with one on and two outs. They got the big hits when they needed them."
 
The Demons (17-14) had the first big hit of the game, taking a 1-0 lead on Caleb Dugas' second-inning RBI single scoring Fry, who reached on an error.
 
Sam Houston State (16-19) did not appear to be en route to a six-run inning when Devin Bear (0-1) allowed a leadoff single before retiring the next two batters on fly balls to center.
 
However, the Bearkats got a pinch-hit RBI triple from Trevor Winne that set in motion the game-changing inning.
 
After Winne's triple, Bryce Johnson laid down an RBI bunt single to snap the 1- all tie. After the next two batters reached base, Ryan Brinley turned on a Bear offering and deposited on the hill beyond the right-field fence for a grand slam.
 
Brinley added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and finished with five RBIs.
 
In between then, Fielding Matkins turned in a strong outing in relief, going 3 1-3 inning and allowing one run in his season debut.
 
"He hadn't been out there all year, and he gave us a shot in the arm," Burroughs said. "We've got a big game tomorrow and a big weekend. We needed someone to go out there and give us a lot of innings, and Fielding did. I'm very proud of him and Nathan Aultman, also."
 
Alex Bisacca (3-1) earned the win in relief, working four hitless and scoreless innings, starting by working out of the bases-loaded jam in the third inning.
 
Sam Houston State added single runs in the fourth and seventh innings before Northwestern State got another run on an eighth-inning RBI single by pinch hitter Anthony Lucas.
 
Cort Brinson stretched his career-long hitting streak to 13 games with a two-hit performance while Joel Atkinson pushed his to 11 with a first-inning single. Nick Heath added a pair of hits for NSU, which dropped its third straight game.
 
Chase Daughdrill's third home run of the season – a three-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning – closed the scoring.
 
The Demons will conclude their five-game road trip against LSU on Wednesday. First pitch at Alex Box Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. NSU will send right-hander Evan Tidwell (2-2, 3.12) to the mound against LSU right-hander Jake Godfrey (5-0, 4.24). The game will be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network and will be televised on SEC Network Plus.
 NSU       010 000 013 – 5 9 0
SHSU     006 100 10x – 8 14 2
W – Alex Bisacca (3-1). L – Devin Bear (0-1). 2B – SHSU, Trevor Winne. 3B – SHSU, Winne; Miles Manning. HR – NSU, Chase Daughdrill (3); SHSU, Ryan Brinley. Highlights: NSU, Nick Heath 2-5; Cort Brinson 2-3; Daughdrill 2-4, HR, 3 RBIs. SHSU, Winne 3-4, 2B, 3B, RBI; Bryce Johnson 3-3, 2 RBIs; Ryan Brinley 2-2, GS, 5 RBIs.
Records: Northwestern State 17-14; Sam Houston State 16-19.