LAKE CHARLES – The Northwestern State pitching staff held out as long as it could Friday night.
Unfortunately for the Demons, the big hit never arrived from the Demons offense.
As such, Joe Provenzano's RBI double in the 13
th inning led McNeese to a 2-1 walk-off victory against Northwestern State at Joe Miller Ballpark.
"I was pleased with how
Ridge Heisler and Danny Hlad pitched," second-year head coach
Bobby Barbier said. "That's what I was pleased with tonight. Other than that, there wasn't much to be pleased with tonight."
After Heisler surrendered a first-inning run, the Demons (20-17, 8-8) scuffled against McNeese right-hander Grant Anderson, managing just three hits in eight-plus innings against the Cowboys starter.
Anderson cracked the door for the Demons in the ninth, issuing a leadoff walk to
Luke Watson before Aidan Anderson relieved his twin brother.
Anderson walked
Tyler Smith and allowed a sacrifice bunt by
Austin Stegall before
Lenni Kunert tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
"We battled back and gave ourselves a chance to win in the ninth, which is nice," Barbier said. "We could have won that game so many times before that. Their first guy was really good, but we didn't make an adjustment on the second guy when we should have. We've got to do a better job of that."
Heisler bounced back from a tough first inning to toss eight strong innings, allowing one run and scattering six hits before the Demons tied it in the ninth.
After Kunert's sac fly, the game became a battle of the bullpens.
While Aidan Anderson (4-4) struck out 10 Demons in five innings, Danny Hlad was equally impressive for the Demons.
Hlad allowed a leadoff double in the ninth to Mitchell Rogers and then found himself in a first-and-third, no-out jam one batter later. He responded with the first two of his career-high eight strikeouts to escape the threat.
"Both of those guys pitched like they should," Barbier said. "We had a little bad fortune in the first, kicked it around a little bit, but (Heisler) got us deep in the game like we needed."
David Hodo (0-3) relieved Hlad to start the 13
th inning and saw Shane Selman reach on an error for the third time in the game. After a wild pitch moved Selman to second, Provenzano drove a 1-1 pitch toward the left-field corner for the victory.
The Demons committed four errors in the loss.
"We can't be satisfied with playing a close game against a good team on a Friday night," Barbier said. "It's about coming out and playing good defense. It's about having good at-bats."
The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. Right-hander
Jerry Maddox (3-3, 2.43) will take the mound for Northwestern State while McNeese counters with left-hander Bryan King (3-2, 3.80).
McNeese 2, Northwestern State 1, 13 innings
NSU 000 000 001 000 0 – 1 4 4
MSU 100 000 000 000 1 – 2 9 1
W – Aidan Anderson (4-4). L –
David Hodo (0-3). 2B – MSU, Mitchell Rogers, Joe Provenzano. 3B – NSU,
Luke Watson. Highlights: MSU, Shane Selman 2-6; Provenzano 2-5, 2B, GW RBI.
Records: Northwestern State 20-17, 8-8; McNeese 18-20, 13-6.
