Bearkats defeats Demons 4-3 in 11 innings

Ryan O’Hearn’s game-winning single in the bottom of the eleventh inning completed the Bearkat come back win against the Northwestern State Demons by the score of 4-3.

The victory extends their winning streak to 11 games and increasing their Southland Conference (SLC) record to 11-2 (22-9 overall).

“I was looking for a pitch that I could hit,” O’Hearn said. “It was low and I had good bat speed and fortunately, it was good enough to win.”

The Demons (12-16 overall, 9-5 SLC) struck first in the top of the second inning on a two-out, RBI single by Drew Helenihi that made it 1-0.

The Bearkats had something going in the bottom of the second when Jake Arrington walked with two outs, but he was thrown out at second base on a steal attempt to end the inning.

The Demons was looking to add more runs in the top of the third inning when Nick Purdy led off with a single and advanced to second base on a single by Colin Bear. Both runners advanced to second and third, respectivly on a sacrifice bunt by Will Watson. But starting pitcher, Caleb Smith stood his ground and struck out the next two batters to stop the Demons at their tracks.

“Caleb really had great stuff tonight,” head coach David Pierce said. “I told him after he got out of the jam ‘that could be the turning point of the game and it turned out to be.”

In the top of the fifth inning, Colin Bear to score from third to increase the lead to 2-0 on a pass ball by catcher John Hale . Bear walked with one out in the inning and advanced to second on an error by Plumlee that allowed Watson to reach first. Nick Hinojos followed with a walk to load the bases.

A sacrifice fly by Jordan Buckley in the top of the sixth inning increased the Demons’ lead to 3-0. Huckabay led off the inning on a two base error by Smith. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Helenihi and scored on the sacrifice fly by Buckley.

The Bearkats came storming back in the bottom of the sixth inning when Anthony Azar belted a two out, two run home run off the scoreboard that cut the Demon lead to 3-2. Olson walked with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch by starting pitcher Jacob Roark and scored on Azar’s home run.

“I knew that the fastball was coming and I wanted to put my best swing on it,” Azar said.

The Demons was looking to add on an insurance run in the top of the eight inning when Buckley hit a two-out single up the middle of the field, but was thrown out at second base by Hale to end the threat.

The Bearkats eventually tied it at 3 in the bottom of the eight inning when Corey Toups scored from third on a wild pitch by reliever Mason Melotakis that sailed over the head of Furdy on an intentional walk attempt to Azar.

Toups led off the inning with a single and reached second on a fielder’s choice that allowed Atwood to reach first. Both runners advanced to second and third, respectively on a sacrifice bunt by Greg Olson to put both runners in scoring position.

“I was trying to get on base to get something started,” Toups said. “Two really good bunts by Colt (Atwood) and Greg (Olson) moved me over.”

The Demons had an opportunity to regain the lead in the top of the ninth inning when Hinojos hit a two-out, single up the middle and Watson tried to score from second base, but was thrown out at home by Atwood to end the inning.

Olson led off the bottom of the eleventh inning with a bunt single and advanced to third on a single by Azar that allowed him to scored the game-winning run on O’Hearn’s single.

Jordan Bunch pitched two innings in relief and got his first win of the season while Melotakis suffered the loss for the Demons.

Smith pitched 5 and 2/3 innings and got the no-decision.

The Bearkats will have an opportunity to sweep the Demons in the rubber match tomorrow at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time is at 1 p.m.