Box Score NATCHITOCHES, La. – Northwestern State jumped out to a six-run lead and managed to hold off Lamar University picking up a 21-7 victory in non-conference action Tuesday evening from Brown-Stroud Field.
 
The Cardinals (11-6) scored their seven runs on six hits, but never managed to take the lead over a Northwestern State squad playing its best baseball of the season picking up its fourth-straight win.
 
Sophomore Jacob Ellis (0-1) got the start but only went 1.0 inning, as he was one of 10 pitchers used for the Cardinals Tuesday. Ellis surrendered three runs – all earned – on three hits with a walk and one strike out.
 
Cameron Taylor (2-0) got the win for Northwestern State getting the start and going 3.0 scoreless innings giving up just one hit but did struggle with control walking three batters.
 
The Cardinals' six hits came from six different players, as Blankenship was 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. Kevin Bermudez was 1-for-3 with a home run – his first career – a walk and two RBIs.
 
The Demons built a six-run lead before the Cardinals battled back in the top half of the fifth. The first two batters – Kelby Weyler and Matthew McDonald – reached after getting hit, and then immediately took an extra base after a wild pitch. MacNaughton drove in Big Red's first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center. Three pitches later, the Cardinals trimmed the deficit in half when Bermudez homered to left-centerfield.
 
Big Red went into to the bottom half of the inning looking for a shutdown frame but it didn't come. Northwestern State answered with four runs on three hits to build their lead back, 10-3. When the Cardinals came up in the 6th, they fought back again with two runs on two hits, with both runs scoring on separate wild pitches.
 
Unfortunately, just like the 5^th inning, NSU followed with runs in their half of the 6^th (2). The Demons closed out the game by tacking on two in the seventh and seven in the eighth before the Cardinals added a two spot in their half of the ninth.
 
The Cardinals return to WAC competition and look to win their fifth consecutive series to open the season, Friday when they host Sam Houston. Friday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium.