NEW ORLEANS – A few big swings early allowed the Northwestern State baseball team to survive one big late-game momentum swing Friday night.
 
Bo Willis' three-run home run highlighted a six-run first inning that sparked an eventual 11-run lead before the Demons held on for an 11-8 win against New Orleans in NSU's Southland Conference opener.
 
"It was a really offensive day," seventh-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. "I don't think our home runs were cheap. They were hit pretty well. I told them after the game, I can't be upset because we didn't come in and give it up. They did a really good job, but it's nice to have (Kyle) Froehlich at the end of the game. That's how you stop those things – with a real arm at the end of the game."
 
NSU (14-11, 1-0) improved to 4-3 in conference openers under Barbier behind an offense that struck early and often against New Orleans starter Tyler LeBlanc (2-3).
 
Five of the first six Demons reached base before Willis connected on his first home run of the season, a titanic three-run shot to left field that doubled the Northwestern State lead.
 
"It sets a spark off after having a long time without anything productive and not coming through for the team when it's needed," said Willis, who drove in three runs against the Privateers for the second straight SLC opener. "To have something like that early in conference is a big jump start. I feel like I'm swinging it well and having good ABs. There were times in the first half where it was hard to get myself to go to the field, but with the support of this team and the coaching staff, every time I stepped into the box was a new opportunity."
 
Willis added a seventh-inning double – one of NSU's five two-baggers – as part of his first multi-hit game of the season.
 
A junior from Magnolia, Texas, Willis had a front-row seat from another strong effort from left-hander Cal Carver (4-2).
 
Armed with an early lead that grew to 10-0 after three-and-a-half innings, Carver retired the first 11 batters he faced and did not allow a hit until Anthony Herron Jr.'s pop-fly double in the fifth.
 
"Cal does Cal things," Willis said. "He's very confident. He knows his stuff, and he knows guys can't hit it when he places it where he needs to. The wind even helps him out. His stuff got a little bit nastier tonight with the wind blowing back at him."
 
Mitchell Sanford's two-run home run put the Privateers (14-12, 1-3) on the board in the fifth, cutting the Demons' lead to 11-2 before Miguel Useche led off the seventh with a solo home run. The first three UNO hitters reached to start the eighth inning, setting in motion a five-run rally.
 
"Cal was fantastic," Barbier said. "After the six spot, they went 11 up, 11 down. That's demoralizing for the other side. He got a little tired, and I probably should have taken him out earlier than I did."
 
Froehlich came in and shut down the Privateers, retiring them in order in the ninth to collect his fourth save of the season.
 
In addition to Willis, Jeffrey Elkins (2-for-5, home run) and Michael Dattalo (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) each had multi-hit games for NSU.
 
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. Northwestern State will send right-hander Alex Makarewich (2-1, 4.03) to the mound against UNO left-hander Brandon Mitchell (4-2, 4.41).
 
Northwestern State 11, New Orleans 8
NSU       610 310 000 – 11 10 0
UNO      000 020 15x – 8 7 2
W – Cal Carver (4-2). L – Tyler LeBlanc (2-3). S – Kyle Froehlich (4). 2B – NSU, Jeffrey Elkins, Michael Dattalo, Daunte Stuart, Jake Haze, Bo Willis. UNO, Tristan Moore, Anthony Herron Jr., Jorge Tejeda. 3B – UNO, Mitchell Sanford. HR – NSU, Jeffrey Elkins (4), Bo Willis (1). UNO, Miguel Useche (3), Mitchell Sanford (4), Tejeda (5). Highlights: NSU, Elkins 2-5, HR, RBI; Dattalo 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Willis 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs. UNO, Sanford 2-4, 3B, HR, 4 RBIs.
Records: Northwestern State 14-11, 1-0; New Orleans 14-12, 1-3.