NATCHITOCHES – Through five games, the Northwestern State baseball team's starting pitching kept the Demons afloat.
 
That did not happen Sunday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
Arkansas State touched Demons starter Evan Tidwell for nine runs in three innings, setting the tone for a 12-3 victory that clinched the weekend series for the Red Wolves.
 
"Give credit to Arkansas State," first-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "They did a great job. Tidwell left the ball up in the zone a little bit and, when he did, they made him pay for it. He only walked one guy, and when you walk one guy as a starting pitcher, normally you have some success. They did a good job of getting after his mistakes."
 
Tidwell (1-1) kept the Red Wolves (6-3) off the scoreboard in the first inning and returned to the mound with a 1-0 lead courtesy of a Kelsey Richard RBI single.
 
The lead did not last as the Red Wolves sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring six runs in the inning. Catcher Justin Felix, who entered the weekend leading the nation in RBIs, delivered the biggest hit, a three-run home run to right-center field.
 
Unlike the Red Wolves, who put together a pair of big innings, the Demons (3-3) were unable to take advantage of Arkansas State starter Collin Cahill's control issues.
 
Cahill (1-0) walked seven Demons in five innings, scattering three hits and striking out four. Three of Cahill's walks came in the first inning, but he allowed only Richard's RBI single in the inning.
 
"We drew our walks, but we didn't make them pay for it," Barbier said. "It's been a trend early this season. When you have that chance, that opportunity, you've got to give your best at-bat. We're not giving our best at-bats for whatever reason. We're working counts to get on base, and now we have to get good at-bats to drive in some runs."
 
Richard was the Demons' most productive hitter Sunday. Twice the redshirt junior catcher cashed in Matt Valdez walks by delivering RBI singles.
 
Richard added a fifth-inning sacrifice fly to set a career high with three RBIs.
 
After Richard's second RBI single pulled Northwestern State within 6-2 after three innings, the Red Wolves delivered a five-run fourth inning against Tidwell and Evan Daigle.
 
This time, Garrett Rucker's bases-clearing triple sparked the inning.
 
Felix and Rucker, who batted third and fourth in the ASU lineup, combined to go 4-for-9 with two triples, a home run and six RBIs. Six of the Red Wolves' 16 hits went for extra bases.
 
Right-handers Cullen McDonald and Emile Lege made their season debuts, combining to allow three hits and one run in the final five innings. Lege tossed two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in his collegiate debut.
 
"It was good to see Cullen run out there and keep them down a little bit," Barbier said. "Emile Lege's a freshman and he came out and threw the ball really well."
 
The Demons will play their first midweek game of the season and close out a seven-game homestand Tuesday night when they host 13^th-ranked UL Lafayette. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
Arkansas State 12, Northwestern State 3
ASU       060 501 000 – 12 16 0
NSU       101 010 000 – 3 6 2
W – Collin Cahill (1-0). L – Evan Tidwell (1-1). 2B – ASU, Drew Tipton; Alex Howard 2. NSU, Regan Kaufman, Caleb Ricca. 3B – ASU, Garrett Rucker 2. HR – ASU, Justin Felix (2). Highlights: ASU, Tipton 2-5, 2B, RBI; Joe Schrimpf 2-3; Felix HR, 3 RBIs; Rucker 3-5, 2 3Bs, 3 RBIs; Jake Bakamus 3-4, RBI; Howard 2-5, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs; Grant Hawkins 2-5, RBI. NSU, Kelsey Richard 2-3, 3 RBIs.
Records: Arkansas State 6-3; Northwestern State 3-3.