A couple of streaks along the bases from Brooks Leonard put the Northwestern State baseball team in position to extend its winning streak Sunday afternoon.
Leonard swiped a pair of bases in the eighth inning and scored the winning run on Thomas Marsala III’s fielder’s choice as the Demons completed a three-game sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a 4-3 win at Brown-Stroud Field. Northwestern won for the sixth consecutive game.
“What a gritty win,” said third-year Chris Bertrand, whose team scored it seventh final at-bat win of the season. “That’s a Demon type of win, because it’s gritty, and it’s all up and down the lineup, and it’s all whatever it takes. It’s whatever anybody needs to do.”
Northwestern (13-7 overall, 6-3 in the Southland) opened the series beating A&M-CC 5-1 Friday night, then clubbed the visitors 10-4 Saturday. The Islanders went home 10-10 overall and 0-5 in the SLC.
For Leonard, who has batted leadoff since Feb. 24, his job description is clear – get on base and cause havoc.
Leonard accomplished the first part of those twin goals with one out in the eighth inning Sunday, singling up the middle.
In the midst of an eight-pitch at-bat to the returning Grant Comeaux, who appeared in a game for the first time since an injury Feb. 17, Leonard swiped second, then third base. His steal of third came on the final pitch of the at-bat as Comeaux drew a walk.
One batter later, Marsala chopped a ball to first baseman Karson Krowka, whose throw to second base recorded the only out on the play and allowed Leonard to scamper home with what became the sweep-clinching run.
“When I get on base, my job is to score,” said Leonard, whose nine stolen bases lead the Demons. “I want to make sure I can put my teammates in the best position. I trust my speed. I trust my tools. Play smart, play fast and let it fly.”
After collecting 24 hits in the first two games of the series, including a massive two-run shot from Marsala Friday night, the Demons scratched out just five Sunday. The biggest – literally and figuratively – came from catcher Noah McNeil.
On a day where 16 mph winds were whipping right to left, McNeil’s first-pitch swing in the fifth inning went from a deep fly ball to straightway center to a two-run, game-tying home run to left-center field – the first blast of McNeil’s college career.
“I came up expecting a fastball early in the count, and that’s what it was – a high fastball,” McNeil said. “That’s my money pitch. I drove it away, and everything else did its job. I’m proud of the team. They passed the message along to expect a heater. That’s the damage there.”
McNeil’s big swing backed Northwestern’s third quality start of the weekend as Trent Hillen scattered four hits and three runs across seven innings while striking out a career-high 10.
Hillen retired 13 of the final 15 hitters he faced, including striking out the side in the sixth inning immediately following McNeil’s home run.
“For a pitcher to go seven innings, it gives us a chance to win that ball game,” McNeil said. “That slider worked really well with the defensive swings from those guys. They’re giving up those strikes. I’m proud of Trent and hoping to see what he can do next week.”
The Demons return to action Tuesday when they start a two-game, midweek road trip with a matchup at Southern. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge. They are home next weekend against UNO in a series beginning Friday evening at the Bistro.
