NATCHITOCHES – Competition has bred success for Northwestern State's starting rotation, and Alex Makarewich produced more evidence of that Saturday afternoon.
 
Makarewich gave the Demons a third straight dominant start and the NSU offense awakened midway through a 10-0, seven-inning win against Alabama A&M at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
"He was fantastic," seventh-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "He has really good stuff. He's matured just so much over the past three years to where he's able to pitch as well as he has on Saturdays for us to back up (Cal) Carver. It's such a different look from Cal, and I think that gives teams trouble."
 
Like Carver in his three-hit shutout Friday, Makarewich (2-0) carried a no-hitter deep into the game, allowing his only hit – a check-swing single from Brycen Hammonds – with one out in the sixth inning. Hammonds also broke up Carver's perfect-game bid with a one-out, eighth-inning single on Friday.
 
Makarewich nearly matched Carver's strikeout total, fanning a career-high 12 in six innings. A 6-foot, 185-pound junior from Keller, Texas, Makarewich struck out five straight Bulldogs form the first through third innings and recorded seven straight outs via strikeout in that same time frame.
 
"Competing with them every week – we compete in the weight room, we compete on the field," Makarewich said of the friendly battles with Carver and fellow starter Drayton Brown, who is scheduled to start Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale. "It's nothing but beneficial. It's always friendly, but we all want to be the best on the weekend."
 
The starting pitching was not the only par of the game that followed Friday's script for the Demons.
 
Northwestern State (8-6) took a minute to get going offensively against Alabama A&M right-hander Evan Crenshaw (2-1), who limited the Demons to one run through the first three innings before they responded with a four-run fourth inning in which all four runs were unearned.
 
Jeffrey Elkins reached on a leadoff throwing error and the Demons sent eight batters to the plate with reigning Southland Conference Hitter of the Week Daunte Stuart delivering the big hit – a two-run home run off Crenshaw.
 
Crenshaw allowed just two earned runs in his 4 2-3 innings but left trailing 6-0 after the Bulldogs (7-7) could not solve Makarewich or reliever Andrew Cossio, who finished off the Demons' first set of back-to-back shutouts since an 11-0 and 9-0 run against Mississippi Valley State on April 2-3, 2019.
 
Northwestern State was able to invoke the mercy rule thanks to a four-run seventh inning that included Bailyn Sorensen' second home run of the season, a titanic three-run shot to left-center field. Sorensen went 2-for-4 with a double and the home run. All five of Sorensen's hits this season have gone for extra bases – two doubles, two home runs and a triple.
 
Sorensen was joined in the multi-hit club by Gabe Colaianni (2-for-4, RBI), Stuart (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Michael Dattalo (2-for-4, RBI).
 
"It makes it feel like (the work) doesn't go to waste," Sorensen said. "Just keep doing what you're doing, keep the same regimen and you're bound and determined to have success. Stay within yourself.'
 
The series concludes with Sunday's 1 p.m. finale. Brown (0-2, 5.94) is set to start for Northwestern State while Alabama A&M has not named its starting pitcher.
 
Northwestern State 10, Alabama A&M 0, 7 innings
AAMU  000 000 0 – 0 1 1
NSU       001         410 4 – 10 10 1
W – Alex Makarewich (2-0). L – Evan Crenshaw (2-1). 2B – NSU, Jake Haze, Bailyn Sorensen. HR – NSU, Daunte Stuart (4), Bailyn Sorensen (2). Highlights: NSU, Gabe Colaianni 2-4, RBI; Stuart 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Michael Dattalo 2-4, RBI; Sorensen 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs.
Records: Alabama A&M 7-7; Northwestern State 8-6.