Carver sets tone as Demons even series with South Dakota State

NATCHITOCHES – A strong outing from a starting pitcher. A veteran leader making a key play. A timely hit.

Those factors have been hallmarks of Northwestern State baseball under head coach Bobby Barbier. Needing to see a response from his team, the sixth-year coach saw the Demons check each of those boxes Friday night against visiting South Dakota State at Brown-Stroud Field.

Cal Carver’s six strong innings stifled the Jackrabbits while Bryce Holmes and Bo Willis delivered the key offensive moments in Northwestern State’s 6-2 win that evened the four-game series.

“Cal was the story of the game,” said Barbier, whose team dropped Thursday’s series opener 16-2. “(Assistant coach) Dan (Hlad) is playing PlayStation over here when Cal’s pitching. We beat a really good arm. Their guy was fantastic, like the guy was (Thursday). We did it in a way we needed to in order to beat a good arm. We got two-out hits there in the fourth that really extended his pitch count to where he was at 100 in the fifth. That makes it tough on a team.”

Carver (2-2) and South Dakota State right-hander Nic McCay matched up in a scoreless battle through the first three innings before the Demons (8-10) enjoyed a breakthrough in the fourth inning.

McCay nearly got out of the fourth inning with no damage after allowing a leadoff single to Daunte Stuart. However, Bryce Holmes coaxed a walk on a full-count pitch and his brother Broch, making his first start since March 4, followed with a go-ahead RBI single to right-center field.

Jeffrey Elkins followed with an RBI single to double the lead, which looked to be more than enough run support for Carver.

Carver was sharp throughout Friday night, pitching off his curveball to scatter three hits through the first five innings before the Jackrabbits (5-11) put together a three-hit, two-run sixth inning.

The Demons escaped further damage when Carver induced an inning-ending 5-3 double play turned by Bryce Holmes to keep the game tied.

“The first two outings (my curveball) wasn’t there,” said Carver, who did not issue a walk while turning in his third quality start in the past four outings. “Dan and I worked on it the past two or three weeks in the bullpen to be sure I always have it. Tonight, it showed.”

Carver allowed six hits – all singles – and struck out five to earn his second straight win.

Bryce Holmes, a senior transfer from Sam Houston, turned in the first key offensive moment for the Demons immediately after starting the inning-ending double play.

He was hit by the first pitch thrown by Ryan Bourassa (0-2) to lead off the sixth. Gabe Colaianni followed with a sacrifice bunt to third base – a play on which Bryce Holmes never broke stride after seeing third base uncovered.

Jackrabbits second baseman Jordan Sagedahl tried to hit a moving target at third base, throwing wildly and allowing Bryce Holmes to scamper home with the go-ahead run.

“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Bryce Holmes said. “I saw an opening and took advantage of it.”

Bryce Holmes’ mad dash put the Demons ahead to stay before Bo Willis put an exclamation point with a redemptive at-bat for both himself and the Demons.

With two outs in the eighth, Willis spun on a 1-2 pitch from Bourassa, drilling it off a tree branch beyond the left-center field wall for his team-leading fourth home run of the season and the eventual final score.

“The mentality is to move the baseball,” said Willis, who had been 0-for-2 before homering. “I had a two-strike count, and our mind-set is to move the baseball, foul it off and fight for the team. The toughest thing (about a slow start) is to forget about it. That’s hard for some people, especially people like me. I’ve been working hard at it for the team. Bob’s pulled me aside a couple of times. I’m starting to control it more. I’m grateful for it.”

Dawson Flowers relieved Carver and retired the first five Jackrabbits he faced, stranding a pair in the eighth before Willis’ home run. Flowers worked a scoreless ninth to finish the three-out save in which he struck out a career-best four.

“Dawson came in and was able to finish out the game,” Barbier said. “That allowed us to save the bullpen for a couple of games (Saturday).”

The series concludes with an 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday. Right-handers Johnathan Harmon (2-1, 1.64) and Drayton Brown (1-2, 3.05) are expected to start for the Demons against South Dakota State right-hander Drew Beazley (0-1, 14.14) and left-hander Cody Carlson (2-2, 4.29).

Northwestern State 6, South Dakota State 2
SDSU 000 002 000 – 2 8 3
NSU 000 201 03x – 6 5 3
W – Cal Carver (2-2). L – Ryan Bourassa (0-2). S – Dawson Flowers (1). 2B – NSU, Gray Rowlett. HR – NSU, Bo Willis (4). Highlights: SDSU, Derek Hackman 2-4; Ryan McDonald 2-4, RBI.
Records: South Dakota State 5-11; Northwestern State 8-10.