NATCHITOCHES – On a day where a pair of left-handed arms quieted offenses, the Northwestern State baseball team rode Larson Fontenot's legs to victory.
 
Almost immediately after entering the game as a pinch runner in the eighth inning, Fontenot scored on a pair of Little Rock throwing errors, racing around from first base with the lone run of the game in a 1-0 Demons victory Friday at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
"Larson's going to be a really good everyday player for us," third-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "He already is a really good player for us. He provides us much value with the way he can run the bases. It's good to get him in late in the game with the game on the line."
 
Fontenot's dash around the bases came on the fourth and fifth errors for the Trojans (1-8), who had survived three errors in a scoreless game until then.
 
With one out in the eighth, Trojans starter Chandler Fidel (0-2) hit Marshall Skinner with a pitch, bringing in Fontenot, who has scored four runs in six pinch-running appearances this season.
 
Fidel's attempted pickoff throw was in the dirt and got by first baseman Trace Jordan, who chased the ball down near the fence past the first-base dugout before making a wild throw across the diamond in an attempt to nab Fontenot at third. Instead, Fontenot raced home with the game-winning run.
 
"I was rounding second, and I didn't know whether to go or not," Fontenot said. "I picked up (third-base coach Taylor Dugas), and he was waving his arms. He told me to get down and said the ball's right here, and then it was by him."
 
After seven innings of putting runners on base with nothing to show for it, the Demons (4-3) grabbed their second final at-bat win of the season, joining a 2-1, 11-inning win at Houston on Feb. 17.
 
Northwestern State left-hander Ridge Heisler was dominant for the six innings, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and allowing only a two-out single to Garrett Scott in the fourth inning.
 
While the Demons could not land the big blow against Fidel, Heisler allowed the Trojans little room to breathe. Scott finished 3-for-4, but Heisler and Jose Vasquez (2-0) held the remaining Little Rock hitters to an 0-for-26 line with a pair of walks.
 
"Tonight was about Ridge and Jose there at the end," Barbier said. "Ridge has the ability to really command the ball, put it where he wants it. His stuff isn't overpowering, but he is a really good competitor. Today, we needed him a little more than usual."
 
Pitching on two fewer days rest than normal, Heisler spun 7 2-3 innings of two-hit ball and struck out eight, one shy of tying his career high. Northwestern State now has tossed 20 consecutive scoreless innings as a staff, recording back-to-back shutouts for the first time since April 24-25, 2018.
 
The short rest did not affect Heisler, who said it made him feel like he was back in his junior-college routine.
 
"Back at (LSU-)Eunice, we literally threw a bullpen, took a day off, and threw in a game," said Heisler, who has not allowed an earned run his past 13 innings. "It was nice to get back to that. The cutter was basically what I through all game. Skin (catcher Marshall Skinner) does a great job of catching the corner when I need it, and the umpire was giving it to us."
 
Vasquez recorded three of his four outs via strikeout, giving Northwestern State its third double-figure strikeout game as a staff this season, helping the Demons win on a night where they managed four hits, all singles. Lenni Kunert had his second straight two-hit game, going 2-for-3 for Northwestern State's lone multi-hit game.
 
"We're a little spoiled with the older guys on the mound," Barbier said. "They compete in the strike zone. That's what it's about. Hopefully, they're teaching the younger guys how to compete in the strike zone."
 
The series concludes with a noon doubleheader Saturday. Right-handers Jerry Maddox (0-0, 3.72) and Nathan Jones (0-0, 1.80) are expected to start for Northwestern State against Little Rock's Jose Torres (0-2, 9.58) and a yet-to-be-named starter.
 
Northwestern State 1, Little Rock 0
Little Rock           000 000 000 – 0 3 5
Northwestern State        000 000 01x – 1 4 0
W – Jose Vasquez (2-0). L – Chandler Fidel (0-2). 2B – LR, Garrett Scott. Highlights: LR, Scott 3-4. NSU, Lenni Kunert 2-3.
Records: Little Rock 1-8; Northwestern State 4-3.