NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State held on to a piece of first place in the Southland Conference East Division on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader with Texas-Arlington after a 9-5 win and an 18-3 seven-inning loss.

The split puts NSU at 23-19 overall and 14-6 in league play, and with Lamar’s one-run win over Texas State, the Demons and Cardinals are tied for first place in the division.

“We won the series, so I’m happy with that,” said Demon head coach J.P. Davis.  “But, obviously, not pleased with the second game.

“In the first game, (Heath) Hennigan didn’t have great stuff, but he battled and got us there, and Kyle Broughton was outstanding out of the pen.”

In the first game, Jordan Nipp lead a 12-hit Demon attack with a 3 for 3 showing at the plate with a RBI and a run scored.

“I thought we were very good offensively in the first game,” said Davis.  “We had a big hit by Beau Snodgrass, and a big hit by Dylan Libadisos, then Broughton came in and shut them down.”

Snodgrass’ RBI groundout in the sixth inning broke a 4-4 tie and Libadisos followed with a single to left field to make it 6-4.

In the seventh, Snodgrass belted a two-run single to right field to give NSU a 9-4 lead.

J.C. Bredengerd (2-0) got the win in a relief role, after throwing just one-third of an inning.  Hennigan started the game and went 5.2 innings, giving up four runs and nine hits with four strikeouts.

Broughton picked up his third save of the season after throwing the final three innings, giving up one run and two hits.

The Demons jumped out quickly with three runs in the first, then another in the second to go up 4-0.  UTA came back with two runs in each the fifth and sixth innings, chasing Hennigan with two outs in the sixth wtih two solo home runs and tying the game 4-4.

In game two, UTA was led at the plate by catcher Chad Comer’s 4 for 5 performance with seven RBI and two runs scored.

The Mavericks scored four runs in the first and five in the third, chasing Demon starting pitcher Clayton Cooper (5-2) after just 2.1 innings.  Cooper allowed seven runs and seven hits.

“Cooper did not establish his fastball today,” said Davis.  “Your rhythm is established with your fastball, and he paid for it today.  But he’s been pretty darn good all year.  Things like that are bound to happen.”

The Demons return to action on Tuesday when they visit Louisiana-Monroe, then turn around and host the War Hawks on Wednesday before visiting Sam Houston State for a three-game SLC weekend series.

“I told the guys it’s time for payback against Sam Houston State after they came in here and swept us last year,” said Davis.  “But I told them the weekend starts with the ULM series.”