NSU earns series win over Texas-Pan America - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Down 3-0 early, the Northwestern State offense outscored Texas-Pan American 10-1 Sunday afternoon to give the Demons a 10-3 victory in Sunday afternoon's rubber match. 

NSU (5-2) scored three runs in the fourth inning to tie the game, and then added seven in the sixth frame to put the game out of reach for the Broncs (2-5).

"You set out to win every series you play, and our guys did that after a rough one Friday night," said first-year head baseball coach Lane Burroughs.  "Our guys showed some toughness winning yesterday and today."

UTPA scored three runs in the first two innings, but a three-run surge that started with Nick Purdy's single to left field got the Demons going.

After Purdy's single to left field, Matt Baca lined one to right field and Edwin Gomez walked.  Todd Wallace knocked in all of them on a double down the left field line.

Northwestern State continued the surge in the sixth that opened up with Cort Brinson's single down the middle and a wild pitch that sent him to second.  Nathan Lyons reached on a fielder's choice when Broncs' shortstop Shane Klemcke's throw to third base went awry. 

Matt Farmer had crucial pinch-hit down the left field line that scored both base runners, and then was substituted for Matt Burns who came in to pinch-run. Garrett Killgore walked and Will Watson laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both Killgore and Burns into scoring position.

"Matt Farmer had a big pinch-hit two-run double.  That's what you ask for when you ask a guy to come off the bench," said Burroughs. "Left-handers were hitting good off their pitcher and we felt like that was a good matchup, and Farmer delivered."

Purdy was intentionally walked to load the bases when Baca hit a dribbler to Alberto Morales who attempted to throw out Burns at home, but the throw was high and Burns and Killgore both scored. Gomez lined a double to left field to score Purdy and Baca. Brinson later knocked Gomez in on a sacrifice fly.

"We did capitalize on their errors, but that's what good teams do," said Burroughs. "Good teams find a way to push runs across the board any way possible."

Andrew Adams started on the mound for the Demons, but gave up three runs in one-plus innings pitched.  A.J. Funk came in and worked four shutout innings and allowed only one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.

"The player of the game is A.J. Funk," said Burroughs. "He comes in and says he is going to pound the strike zone.  That's what he did. He gave us a chance to win."

Joesph Siegfried (1-0) took the decision on three innings and Logan Shaftner finished it out with one.

Bryan Maxwell (0-1) got the loss and allowed seven runs (3 earned) on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning pitched.

Gomez was the only player for either team to have a multi-hit game, but Gomez, Baca, and Purdy all had two runs each.

NSU will play the next 14 of 15 games on the road starting with a two-game set against Texas A&M Tuesday at 6:35 in Olson Field at Blue Bell Park.  The Demons will return home for a Friday night game against Louisiana-Monroe on March 8.