NATCHITOCHES – For the second straight day, Northwestern State catcher Anthony Jones provided a late-inning double, this time scoring two runs, and relief pitcher J.C. Bredengerd pitched NSU out of a jam as the Demons rallied from a 3-2 deficit to defeat Lamar, 6-3, and take the Southland Conference baseball series two games to one.

The win moves NSU (27-24, 16-10 SLC) to just a half-game behind Lamar (29-21, 17-10 SLC) for first place in the East Division standings, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the eight Demon senior who were playing in their final game at Brown-Stroud Field.

“The story of the weekend was the way we competed,” said NSU head coach J.P. Davis.  “We came out flat in Friday’s game, then responded well yesterday (Saturday) with a good win.  And we told the guys if we matched our energy from Saturday, we would win the series, and that’s exactly what happened.”

Senior Ryan Campbell earned his second save of the season and 10^th of his career when he threw the ninth inning to close out the game.  But it was the relief effort of Bredengerd that shifted the momentum back to the Demons’ side after starter Clayton Cooper lost a 2-0 lead by allowing three runs in the sixth inning.

“Coop(er) was really throwing the ball well early, then comes out in the sixth and gives up a hard hit, then two or three dumps in a row,” said Davis.  “It wasn’t going bad for him, just not as well as we wanted, and I knew I had to go get him and change what was happening.”

Cooper allowed just one hit through five innings but gave up five hits in the sixth.  He loaded the bases with one out before being lifted for Bredengerd, who quickly got the next batter to hit into a double play and get out of the inning.  Bredengerd (3-0) got the win after throwing 2.2 scoreless innings and giving up two hits with one strikeout.

“Just as he’s done almost every time this year, the guy (Bredengerd) comes in and gets a two-ball,” said Davis.  “They had the momentum going, and just like that, we got it back with the two-ball.”

NSU’s 4-run seventh begin with a lead-off single by senior center fielder Dylan Libadisos.  Shortstop Denney Choate’s sacrifice bunt attempt got Libadisos out at second, but senior second baseman Roberto Gallegos and left fielder Jordan Nipp followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases.

Senior first baseman Mike Jaworski was hit-by-a-pitch to score a run and tie the game at 3-all and designated hitter Justin O’Neal followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Demons up 4-3 with two outs.

That’s when Jones delivered his 2-run double to make it 6-3.

“The hitters did a great job,” said Davis.  “Especially in that seventh inning with that four spot with the big one being Jones’ shot down the line.”

NSU will close out the regular season next Thursday-Saturday at Central Arkansas while Lamar takes on McNeese State.