NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State baseball team held its Senior Day ceremonies a week ago during its final Southland Conference series.
 
In its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon, the Demons seniors seemingly all had special days as Northwestern State capped a two-game sweep of Stephen F. Austin with a 13-2 run-rule victory.
 
Playing his final home game, Bo Willis connected on the Demons' seventh grand slam of the season and the fourth of his career to highlight NSU's nine-run fifth inning – its second nine-run frame in as many games against the Lumberjacks (10-44).
 
"It means our guys trust our mind-set and our preparation," said Willis, who had his second six-RBI game of the season and moved within one RBI of tying Colin Bear for 10^th on NSU's career list. "Our mind trusts our bodies and trusts our swing. It seems to work out whenever we do that and let the process do its thing."
 
The Demons (23-31) started slowly against SFA starter Caleb Rutledge (1-4) before nicking him for three runs in the third inning, erasing a 1-0 deficit.
 
After the Lumberjacks sliced the lead to one in the fifth inning, Willis' fellow catcher, James Starnes, sparked NSU's nine-run fifth with a leadoff double. Playing his final game at Brown-Stroud Field, Starnes' second double of the year was hit nearly to the same spot as his double against Southern Illinois on opening weekend, which was his first career extra-base hit.
 
More impressively, Starnes' double came against left-hander Carter Hines.
 
"I have struggled this year, especially against left-handers," Starnes said. "(NSU head coach Chris) Bert(rand) told me I was going to get the start and get a few innings, so going into that I had an idea it would be my last at-bat. I saw a lefty on the bump, and I was a little disappointed. I saw the ball well and put a good swing on it, and I'm happy to walk away with something like that."
 
Starnes' swing opened the floodgates for an inning that included Willis' grand slam and freshman Brooks Leonard's first career RBI. Leonard entered the game as a pinch runner for Starnes and scored a run before beating out a potential double-play grounder to bring home the seventh run of the inning.
 
While the seniors enjoyed their day, Leonard's milestone RBI came on a day where his twin brother, Bryce, picked up the win in relief, retiring the only batter he faced in the third inning ahead of NSU's go-ahead, three-run rally.
 
Northwestern State's fifth-inning barrage backed an all-staff pitching day in which eight Demon pitchers scattered six hits. Fittingly, senior right-hander Will Reed took care of the final out, covering first base and taking a feed from second baseman Samuel Stephenson to end the seventh inning and strand a pair of runners.
 
After the play survived a review and the out stood, the Demons completed their second weekend sweep in their past three home series, dating to a three-game run against HCU from April 26-28.
 
"You're looking at people who use the game the right way and teach life lessons in the right way," Bertrand said. "(SFA's seniors) deserve that. James Starnes deserves that, and so does Will Reed. We're always going to stand up and applaud for those things. On our end, for Bo's six RBIs, an amazing experience we continue to get to have with these men."
 
With Saturday's results across the Southland Conference, the Demons clinched the No. 4 seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament. NSU will face longtime rival McNeese at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the tournament opener.
 
Northwestern State 13, Stephen F. Austin 2
SFA       001 010 0 – 2 6 1
NSU     003 091 x – 13 9 0
W – Bryce Leonard (2-2). L – Caleb Rutledge (1-4). 2B – SFA, Cole Hill. NSU, Braden Benton, James Starnes. HR – SFA, Cole Hill. NSU, Bo Willis (7). Highlights: SFA, Hill 2-3, 2B, HR, RBI. NSU, Reese Lipoma 2-3, RBI; Willis 2-4, HR, 6 RBIs.
Records: Stephen F. Austin 10-44; Northwestern State 22-31.