NATCHITOCHES – Three pitches was all it took for
Kwan Adkins to maintain a family tradition.
Adkins drilled his first home run of the season on the third pitch of the game against Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday night, setting the tone for Northwestern State's 21-0, seven-inning victory.
In the process, Adkins not only sparked NSU's season-best totals in runs and hits (18), he did something his father also accomplished – hitting a home run against the Delta Devils.
"I accidentally hit one," Adkins said with a smile. "(Hitting) coach (Taylor) Dugas, when I was rounding third, told me that it was foul. He's got a rule that anything I hit past the pitcher to the right side is foul."
Adkins' leadoff home run on a 1-1 pitch from Delta Devils starter Jeremiah Barr (1-3) ignited Northwestern State's first 20-run performance since a 20-17 win at Texas-San Antonio on March 17, 2012.
Adkins' second career home run put him in the same company of his father, Stan, who homered against Mississippi Valley State while playing for Southern in 1993.
"It was a fastball down and in, and I was able to drop the bat head," Adkins said. "It's been three years (since my last home run). Who knows? It's just a good day for the Adkins family."
It was a good all-around day for the Demons (22-18).
Following Adkins' home run, Northwestern State kept the pressure on, sending 12 batters to the plate in an eight-run first inning.
That barrage was just the beginning as the Demons scored in every inning but the fifth and put up at least four runs in three separate innings.
David Fry led the offensive surge with a 5-for-5, six-RBI performance that included a school single-game record-tying three doubles and his seventh home run of the season.
The two-run blast came as part of back-to-back home runs with
Sam Wallace, whose first career home run came two pitches after Fry's shot. It also capped NSU's first five-hit performance since Edwin Gomez did so against Southeastern Louisiana on May 23, 2014.
"I knew I had four, and I had never five before, so I was begging (coach Bobby) Barbier to keep me in," Fry said. "Luckily, he kept me in and I got the hit, so now I have to buy him lunch."
Fry was equally as enthusiastic about Wallace's home run, which he barely saw leave over the left-field wall.
"He's had good at-bats all year," Fry said. "It was nice to see that. He works hard all the time and deserves that moment."
Armed with a big lead after the first inning, right-hander
David Hodo (1-3) earned his first career win with two shutout innings in a designated short start.
Fellow right-handers
Ty O'Neal (three innings) and
Evan Daigle (two innings) completed the Demons' second shutout of the season, a combined three hitter.
"When you pitch with a lead, you shove the ball in the strike zone," second-year head coach
Bobby Barbier said. "All three guys did that today."
Led by Fry, five different Demons recorded multi-hit games.
J.P. Lagreco went 3-for-4 with an RBI while
Lenni Kunert,
Kelsey Richard and
Sam Taylor each had two hits. Richard drove in four runs with two of the Demons' season-high seven doubles.
"They helped us with a few miscues in the field, but I thought our guys did a good job of hitting good pitches," Barbier said. "They got good pitches to hit and put good swings on them tonight."
The series concludes tomorrow with a 12 p.m. matchup.
Cullen McDonald (1-0, 5.87) will start for Northwestern State. Mississippi Valley State has not announced a starter.
Northwestern State 21, Mississippi Valley State 0
MVSU 000 000 0 – 0 3 6
NSU 811 407 x – 21 18 1
W –
David Hodo (1-3). L – Jeremiah Barr (1-3). 2B – NSU,
David Fry 3;
Kelsey Richard 2;
J.P. Lagreco;
Austin Stegall. HR – NSU,
Kwan Adkins (1); Fry (7);
Sam Wallace (1). Highlights: NSU, Fry 5-5, 3 2Bs, HR, 6 RBIs; Lagreco 3-4, 2B, RBI;
Lenni Kunert 2-3, RBI; Richard 2-3, 2 2Bs, 4 RBIs;
Sam Taylor 2-3.
Records: Mississippi Valley State 11-24; Northwestern State 22-18
