Natchitoches, La. –

The Central Arkansas baseball team traveled to Natchitoches, Louisiana on Friday to begin a three-game set against Southland Conference foe Northwestern State on Friday night. The Demons picked up the win in the series’ first game, taking down the Bears 1-0.

Both starters were more than effective on the day, combining to allow one run on ten hits. Robert Baker (3-3) earned the win for the Northwestern State, throwing all nine innings. Baker allowed only two hits on the night, issuing four walks and striking out nine. Caleb McClanahan (5-3) took the tough-luck loss for Central Arkansas, allowing only one run in his eight innings of work. McClanahan gave up eight hits and a walk in addition to striking out six.

Both teams were quite for much of the game, with both pitchers proving effective at limiting scoring chances. The Demons (10-21, 1-6 SLC) threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting runners on the corners with no outs thanks to a pair of Central Arkansas (21-8, 2-5 SLC)  errors. McClanahan came through for the Bears though, getting a foul out and a pair of strikeouts to keep the Demons off the board and the game tied at 0-0.

Northwestern finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh. Catcher Nick Purdy led off the inning with single, advancing to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Matt Farmer moved Purdy to third on an infield single, and right fielder Zach Costa drove him in with a bunt single to first base. Central Arkansas catcher Michael Marietta caught pinch runner Jake Clouatre attempting to steal third base and McClanahan picked up his sixth strikeout of the night to end the threat.

Central Arkansas was able to reach base only five times on the night. Ethan Harris and Scott Zimmerle each had a hit, Blake Marchal and Sam Moon each contributed a pair of walks, and Michael Marietta was hit by a pitch.

The Bears look to return to the win column tomorrow afternoon, playing the Demons at 2:00 in the afternoon. The series will wrap up on Sunday afternoon, with a game scheduled to start at 1:00.