A rivalry that once was a staple of Northwestern State’s baseball schedule resumes tonight for the first time in more than a decade.
The Demons (14-9) host Centenary (9-14) for the first time in 15 years at 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field, marking the first time Northwestern and the Gents have met since Centenary transitioned from NCAA Division I to Division III.
Meanwhile, at the nearby Demon Diamond softball complex, Northwestern meets Louisiana Tech in a 6 p.m. contest.
The resumption of the baseball rivalry, which Northwestern leads 36-11 since 1990, is the Demons’ first home game since a March 9 win against UIW. That win was part of a 5-0 homestand that rolled into a 5-2 road trip that saw the Demons win consecutive Southland Conference series in that time.
“We can’t wait to get back in front of our fans and all the great things that playing at home offers,” said NSU baseball coach Chris Bertrand, whose team has won nine straight games at Brown-Stroud Field. “We’re exited to be able to showcase the growth, the development and the bonding that took place on that seven-game road trip. Being able to showcase that in the friendly confines of the B-Stro is something I know our guys are looking forward to.”
While returning home, the Demons will turn to a familiar face as the starting pitcher – one that again has ties to Northwestern’s opponent.
Sophomore right-hander Kevin Robinson (4-0, 5.25) will make his fifth start of the season against the Gents, adding to his collection of full-circle moments.
After starting games against the alma maters of his father (Louisiana Tech) and brother (Louisiana Christian) a season ago, the Shreveport-Byrd product will be on the mound as the Demons resume their rivalry against his hometown college.
In the softball game, Northwestern’s young squad will try to break through after battling unsuccessfully late into all three games at home this weekend against Southland Conference leader Southeastern Louisiana. Each contest was decided in the sixth (of seven) innings or later.
NSU (3-27) will take on a Bulldogs team (19-11) that posted a homefield sweep of Middle Tennessee State to move to 7-2 in Conference USA. It’s the second matchup between the Demons and Bulldogs, with Tech breaking open a one-run game in Ruston Feb. 19 in the fourth inning on the way to a 9-1 triumph. The visitors bring an eight-game win streak into the contest.
TENNIS STILL UNBEATEN IN SLC: a 6-1 victory in Beaumont, Texas, over Lamar on Monday kept the NSU Lady Demons undefeated in Southland Conference play.
Northwestern (6-6 overall, 6-0 SLC) dominated doubles and rolled to a 4-0 overall lead, clinching the match outcome.
The NSU duo of Sofi Garcia and Ayu Ishibashi got the visitors started as they delivered a flawless 6-0 victory. Pika Doberlet and Tjasa Klevisar secured a 6-2 win to lock up the doubles point.
Garcia was untouchable in a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Emma Palus at the No. 6 singles spot to extend NSU’s momentum and two more straight set singles wins by Homeka Umeda and Ishibashi locked up the sixth SLC victory for the league-leading Lady Demons, who won’t play again until April 5.
DEMONS’ PITCHER MARIONNEAUX NABS SLC HONOR: Sophomore right-hander Dylan Marionneaux’s first career complete-game shutout – a two-hitter at New Orleans on Friday – earned him his first career Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honor, announced Monday afternoon by the conference office.
Marionneaux spun the Demons’ first two-hit, complete-game shutout in nearly seven years. Ridge Heisler had been the last Northwestern pitcher to accomplish that feat, doing so April 14, 2018, against Southeastern Louisiana.
A Zachary High School product, Marionneaux allowed two singles and one walk against the Privateers in a 1-0 victory. He allowed only one runner to reach scoring position. Once that happened, Marionneaux retired the final 13 hitters he faced.
In addition to throwing 68 of his 102 pitches for strikes, Marionneaux extended his scoreless streak to 16 innings dating to a March 7 start against UIW. He will take the mound for Northwestern at home Friday night against Nicholls at Brown-Stroud Field.
