The Northwestern State baseball team’s success in the 2024 season was based on a blend of a large number of newcomers and a few seasoned veterans.

 

Both groups were honored by the Southland Conference’s coaches and sports information directors Tuesday afternoon as a trio of Demon players earned all-conference acclaim ahead of the league tournament, which begins Wednesday in Hammond.

 

Two Demons earned second-team All-Southland honors for the first time in their careers.

 

Redshirt junior outfielder Reese Lipoma, one of just two returners who had more than 20 at-bats at the Division I level, was named to the second team after a breakout season in his first year as a full-time starter.

 

Lipoma, a Gonzales native and St. Amant High School product, started all 53 games as the Demons’ center fielder and leadoff hitter. Sparked by a career-long 17-game hit streak that straddled March and April, Lipoma led Northwestern State in batting average (.319), hits (68), runs (56), doubles (13) and stolen bases (14).

 

In conference play, Lipoma shared the league lead in runs scored (28) and ranked in the top 10 in batting average (.380, 3rd), on-base percentage (.470, 5th) and stolen bases (5, T-7th). Overall, Lipoma ranked in the top 10 in stolen bases (14, 5th), runs (56, 6th) and hits (68, T-6th).

 

Lipoma needs one more run scored to move into a three-way tie for 10th in school single-season history and is nine hits shy of the top 10 in that category.

 

Bunch, a transfer from Ranger College, was Northwestern State’s most consistent pitcher, going 2-1 and tying for the team lead with four saves while pitching to a 2.23 ERA. Bunch picked up both of his wins and two of his saves in league play.

 

His .193 batting average against would rank third in the league with enough innings pitched. In league play, Bunch was even better, pitching to a 1.57 ERA and holding opponents to a .143 batting average while striking out 25 in 23 innings.

 

Bunch worked multiple innings in his first 13 appearances, highlighted by a five-inning outing at Nicholls. He recorded six scoreless appearances – three in league play – and did not allow an earned run in five of his eight SLC appearances.

 

In addition to wins at McNeese and Nicholls, Bunch tossed two perfect innings to close out the Demons’ 2-0 shutout win at SLC champion Lamar on May 4 to hand the Cardinals’ their first shutout loss of the season.

 

Rocco Gump, a junior from Chandler, Arizona, gave the Demons a third all-conference honoree as he was named the third baseman on the league’s all-defensive team.

 

Gump, a transfer from Pima Community College, handled the hot corner with aplomb all season, committing only two errors among his 148 chances. Additionally, Gump was involved in four of the 24 double plays the Demons turned this season.

 

Fourth-seeded Northwestern State opens Southland Conference Tournament play at 9 a.m. Wednesday when they face No. 5 seed McNeese at Southeastern’s Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.