NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State baseball took a couple of punches from former Southland Conference rival UT Arlington at Brown-Stroud Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
Late in the game, the Demons threw the biggest haymaker in the form of a five-run seventh inning that gave Northwestern an 8-3 win and clinched the series with the visiting Mavericks.
 
"I'm a leader who is so proud of the character of his group and so proud of the identity we are creating," third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. "We are well aware that this win requires balance, because we have to balance how excited we are to be 2-0 and how excited we are that we did some really cool baseball things to get it going. At the same time, we know in the first four innings, there are some things that need to be cleaned up. That's to be expected early, but it's more of a challenge for us, because once we answer that challenge and mix it with the talent we do have and the championship characteristics we are exhibiting, this could be really special for the next 50-something games."
 
The Demons (2-0) had their chances early against UTA left-hander Ty Zahradnik, but the redshirt sophomore made key pitches, inducing three double plays in his five-plus innings of work.
 
While Northwestern's offense waited patiently for the big hit to arrive, the Demon pitching staff stifled UTA (0-2) for a second straight game.
 
Junior right-hander Dylan Marionneaux allowed two runs in five-plus innings before Kevin Robinson recorded four outs in relief.
 
Robinson was lifted with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning, setting up freshman left-hander Brody Trosclair (1-0) to make his collegiate debut. Trosclair escaped trouble with a strikeout and another sparking defensive play from freshman second baseman Brock Davis to thwart the rally and keep the game tied.
 
Trosclair recorded the final eight outs in shutout fashion, striking out six to collect his first collegiate victory.
 
"What an incredible play by Brock at a moment where we needed it the most," Bertrand said. "Another guy who kept punching. He faced some adversity last night and some today. He didn't cave to it. He put his fists up and kept fighting. Unbelievable outing by Brody there at the end, a quality start from Slim (Marionneaux), and a good job of bridging that gap with Kevin. That's the first time we rolled him out in a bit of a new role, and I thought he did an absolutely awesome job."
 
That fight – along with Thomas Marsala III's game-tying, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth -- carried to the bottom of the inning when the Demons solved UTA right-hander Danny Valadez (0-1).
 
Noah McNeil's pinch-hit double started a run of five straight Demons to reach base before Brooks Leonard (two-run single) and Colton Harrison (two-run double) sparked the five-run frame that put the game out of reach.
 
While the Demons answered each of UTA's scoring innings – one run in the fourth, two in the sixth – the Mavericks had no answer for the Demons' biggest offensive inning of the young season.
 
"Our pitching staff held the ballgame right where it needed to be held until our offense could get those big blows," Bertrand said. "I'm proud of the two innings where I thought we played extremely complementary baseball. They go out and get a run, and we answer. They get two, we answer with two back. We answered at every turn. Check that box as a lesson learned. Unbelievable job by the ballclub in the big moments of the game."
 
The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. UTA will send Bellevue College transfer right-hander Dylan Skolfield (10-1, 2.70) to the mound against Northwestern right-hander Trent Hillen (7-1, 5.54).
 
Northwestern State 8, UT Arlington 3
UTA      000 102 000 – 3 7 1
NSU     000 102 50x – 8 10 3
W – Brody Trosclair (1-0). L – Danny Valadez (0-1). 2B – UTA, Austin Phillips, Xavier Melendez. NSU, Grant Comeaux, Noah McNeil, Colton Harrison. HR – NSU, Thomas Marsala III (1). Highlights: UTA, Zach Mazoch 3-5, 2 RBIs. NSU, Brooks Leonard 2-3, 2 RBIs; Colton Harrison 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Mason Wray 2-3.
Records: UT Arlington 0-2; Northwestern State 2-0.