2023 Northwestern State Baseball Information Guide

DEMON SPORTS NETWORK/ESPN+

Northwestern State enters its first season in which every home game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Longtime “Voice of the Demons” Patrick Netherton, in his 20th season with the program, primarily will handle broadcast duties on the streaming service.

Netherton and Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Jason Pugh will deliver play-by-play of select road games on the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app and through www.NSUDemons.com.

UNIVERSITY FACTS

Location: Natchitoches, Louisiana

Population: 18,384

Founded: 1884

Athletic Affiliation: NCAA Division I

Conference: Southland Conference

Enrollment: 9,383

Nickname: Demons

Colors: Purple & White, orange trim

Print Specs: Purple - 492f92, Orange- f78426

Mascot: Victory “Vic” The Demon

BASEBALL INFORMATION

First Year: 1912

First Year of Southland Baseball: 1988

All-Time Record, Years: 1709-1614-14, 83

2022 Overall Record: 25-29

2022 Southland Record, Place: 12-12, T-4th

Southland Conference Championships, Last: 9, 2005

SLC Tournament Championships, Last: 1, 2018

NCAA Tournament Appearances, Last: 4, 2018

Position Players w/Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 11/6

Pitchers Returning/Lost: 9/6

Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 20/12

Stadium: Brown-Stroud Field (BStro)

Capacity: 1,200

Record at the BStro, Year: 709-410 (since 1981)

Built: 1939

Press Box Phone: 318-357-4606

NSU BASEBALL STAFF

NAME

Chris Bertrand Assistant Coach

Spencer Goodwin Assistant Coach

2017 Sixth

Dan Hlad Volunteer Assistant Coach Northwestern State, 2018 Third

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

NAME POSITION

Dr. Marcus Jones President

Dr. Susan Campbell Faculty Representative

Kevin Bostian Athletics Director

Patric DuBois Deputy Athletic Director

Dustin Eubanks Associate AD for Compliance

Darrian Westerfield Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs

TBA Senior Woman Administrator

Ventric Fletcher Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development

Jason Pugh Assistant AD for Media Relations

Bryn Edmonston Athletic Academic Coordinator

Jamie Howard Assistant Director of Business Operations

Lauren Krupica Director of Marketing and Digital Media

Scott Maggio Director of Ticketing & Special Events

Martin Iddon Director of Athletic Facilities/Event Management

Cody Germany Assistant Director of Athletic Facilities/Event Management

Logan Hayes General Manager of Corporate Partnerships

Brad Welborn Assistant Sports Information Director

Jonathon Zenk Assistant Director of Communication

2023 Demon Baseball Media Guide Credits

Editor: Jason Pugh, Assistant AD for Media Relations

Layout and Design: Jason Pugh, Assistant AD for Media Relations

Editorial Assistance: Doug Ireland, David Stamey, Brad Welborn, Ronnette Pellegrin, SID staff, baseball coaches and players.

Photography: Chris Reich and Gary Hardamon, NSU Photographic Services

Printing: Northwestern State Print Shop; Natchitoches, Louisiana

Gabe Colaianni

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

2023 SCHEDULE

Jake Haze

Gus Collins

2023 ROSTER

COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH: Bobby Barbier (7th season as HC, 12th overall)

ASSISTANT COACH: Chris Bertrand (7th season)

ASSISTANT COACH: Spencer Goodwin (6th Season)

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH: Dan Hlad (3rd Season)

DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: Trevor Wren (3rd season)

DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL OPERATIONS: Thomas Taylor (2nd season)

GRADUATE MANAGER: Joe Craighead (1st season)

ATHLETIC TRAINER: Brittany Goldberg (4th Season)

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Bobby BARBIER: BAR-bee-ay

Lathen BUZARD: LAY-thin buh-ZARD

Gabe COLAIANNI: COLE-ee-ann-ee

Michael DATTALO: duh-TALL-oh

BROCH Holmes: BROCK

Kyle FROEHLICH: FRAY-lick

Alex MAKAREWICH: Muh-CAR-uh-witch

MISCOUCHE: Mi-SKUSH

NACOGDOCHES: NACK-uh-doe-chez

NATCHITOCHES - NACK-uh-dish

Gray ROWLETT: ROW (rhymes with ow)-lett

ST. AMANT, La: SAN AH-maw

Thomas SOTILE: SO-teel

BOBBY BARBIER

Head Coach

12th Season at Northwestern State (Seventh as head coach) Northwestern State, 2006

Six seasons into his tenure as the head baseball coach at his alma mater, Bobby Barbier has left his imprint on Northwestern State baseball.

From leading the Demons to the first Southland Conference Tournament championship in 2018 to coaching the first single-season trio of All-Americans in Demon baseball history, Barbier has added his own layer of shine to the decorated NSU program.

Entering the 2023 season, a Northwestern State pitcher has been drafted in four straight seasons with the latest being Johnathan Harmon, who went in the 13th round to Cincinnati in 2022. Harmon followed Levi David (2021, New York Mets), Logan Hofmann (2020, Pittsburgh) and Nathan Jones (2019, New York Mets) as pitchers Barbier has helped guide to the MLB Draft. Overall, seven NSU players have been drafted under Barbier’s watch while current Oakland A’s right-hander Adam Oller spent two seasons with Barbier as his pitching coach.

In 2020, right-handed pitchers Hofmann (second-team Collegiate Baseball), Harmon (Collegiate Baseball Freshman) and Kyle Swanson (third-team CoSIDA Academic) earned All-American honors .

Depsite the COVID-19 shortened season, Hofmann led the nation in ERA (0.00) and struck out 38 batters in 28 innings, becoming a fifth-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving NSU consecutive seasons with the highest drafted Southland Conference player.

Behind that trio, the Demons ranked fifth nationally in team ERA (2.05), 10th in hits allowed per nine innings (5.97) and 12th in shutouts (3). All three totals led the Southland Conference.

One year after engineering the largest single-season turnaround in program history — a jump of 18 wins — the Demons returned to the Southland Conference Tournament and produced a pair of Major League Baseball draftees for the second straight season.

Right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones became the first top-five-round draft pick from Northwestern State since Mason Melotakis went in the second round in 2012. Junior shortstop Caleb Ricca then was tabbed by Seattle in the 23rd round, giving the Demons four draftees in the past two seasons.

Jones (second team), Ricca (third team) and outfielder Tyler Smith (third team) were named All-Southland Conference in 2019, giving NSU nine all-league players in the first three years of the Barbier era.

In 2018, en route to the Demons’ first NCAA Regional appearance since Barbier’s junior season of 2005, the Demons won 18 more games than they had the previous season and captured the first Southland Conference Tournament championship in program history. Northwestern State’s 38 victories were its most since 2005 when it won 41 games.

Barbier’s even-keeled leadership style helped mold a roster that had 17 newcomers into a cohesive unit that scored the first NCAA Regional shutout in school history, a 9-0 whitewashing of San Diego State.

The 2018 Demons enjoyed both team and individual success.

Three Demons earned individual acclaim from both the Southland Conference and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Barbier was both organization’s Coach of the Year and earned the Central Region Coach of the Year award from the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Catcher/first baseman David Fry was the Southland Conference’s Player of the Year and the LSWA’s Hitter of the Year while right-handed pitcher Jerry Maddox was both the Southland and LSWA Newcomer of the Year.

Fry was named a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Magazine, giving Northwestern State its second All-American in three seasons, joining Adam Oller, who earned the honor during Barbier’s term as the Demons’ pitching coach.

That role was one Barbier resumed in 2018, and his impact was immediately mea

Coaching Experience

surable.

In addition to Maddox’ first-team All-Louisiana and second-team All-Southland Conference selections, fellow junior Ridge Heisler was a third-team all-conference selection. Overall, the Demons shaved more than two and a half runs from their ERA, pitching to a 3.41 mark in 2018. That number ranked 18th nationally and was 2.65 lower than the previous season.

Following the Demons’ run to the NCAA Corvallis Regional, half of the NSU senior class heard its name called in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Fry was a seventh-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers while center fielder Kwan Adkins, a third-team All-SLC pick, was nabbed by the San Francisco Giants in the 30th round.

Three-quarters of the NSU senior class reached professional baseball as pitcher Danny Hlad joined the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League following the season.

During Barbier’s first season, Fry produced the first 20-double, 10-home run season in school history, earning first-team American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings AllSouth Central Region honors.

Before becoming the 12th coach in the more than 100 years of Demon baseball history, Barbier spent two stints as an assistant coach with the Demons.

He spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons helping the Demons craft two of the lowest

ERAs in recent Northwetern State baseball history.

The son of former Nicholls football coach Darren Barbier was an easy choice to succeed Lane Burroughs.

In addition to helping guide ace Adam Oller to a pair of All-American selections, Barbier’s tutelage led the Demons staff to a 3.01 ERA that ranked ninth nationally.

Barbier directed Oller to a season in which he went 8-1, posted a 1.23 ERA (third-lowest nationally) and earned Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, along with All-American nods from Louisville Slugger/ Collegiate Baseball magazine and the American Baseball Coaches Association.

In his first season, Barbier helped the NSU staff post a 3.55 ERA while Josh Oller became the program’s first 10game winner in 11 years and Brandon Smith tied the program record for single-season saves (10). The overall ERA marked an improvement of more than one run from 2014 and was the lowest mark since 2002 (3.54).

Forming successful pitchers stood in opposition to what Barbier did while wearing a Demon uniform.

Barbier, the 2006 Southland Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year, played four seasons for the Demons, finishing his career ranked in the top 10 in eight offensive categories. He remains second in NSU history in hit by pitches.

Upon his arrival in Natchitoches that summer, Barbier began implementing and imparting his pitching system that debuted at Brown-Stroud Field that spring.

After spending the 2007 season as a student assistant and the following two seasons as an assistant coach, Barbier joined former NSU head coach Mitch Gaspard’s staff at the University of Alabama, where he spent five seasons as the Crimson Tide’s third base coach.

While at Alabama, Barbier coached five All-Southeastern Conference selections, including Academic All-American Taylor Dugas. Twelve Alabama players were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft during Barbier’s Crimson Tide tenure.

Barbier was part of a Crimson Tide coaching staff that led Alabama to four regional appearances from 2010-

Barbier vs. All Opponents

14, including the Atlanta Regional championship and a berth in the 2010 Clemson Super Regional.

Barbier’s responsibilities at Alabama included coaching outfielders, assisting with catchers and infielders, directing camps and scouting and being heavily involved in recruiting. Barbier also was the staff’s academic coordinator. Barbier was a key contributor on the field as Alabama’s defense set a school record for fielding percentage in 2011.

During his first stint as a Demons assistant, Barbier coached NSU infielders and hitters as well as acting as the team’s base running coordinator. Under his tutelage, NSU led the Southland Conference in stolen bases with 99. Barbier also coordinated travel, field maintenance and team academics as an NSU assistant.

During his Northwestern State playing career, Barbier epitomized the term student-athlete. In addition to being awarded the Southland’s top individual academic honor, Barbier was a 2004 Academic All-American and part of the 2005 Southland Conference All-Academic Team.

On the field, Barbier saw the majority of his playing time at first base, earning honorable mention all-conference accolades in 2004 and first-team All-Southland honors in 2005, while helping lead NSU to the 2005 Southland Conference title and an NCAA Baton Rouge Regional berth.

Even though his playing career ended more than a decade ago, the left-handed-hitting Barbier still ranks in the career top 10 in hit by pitches (2nd, 44), RBIs (4th, 130), games played (7th, 209), doubles (T-10th, 33), hits (10th, 181) and total bases (10th, 267).

During his college career, Barbier laid the foundation for his future career, coaching American Legion ball for three years (2005-07) in Natchitoches and in Lafayette, directing each of his teams to regional tournament berths.

Barbier earned his bachelor’s degree in health and human performance from Northwestern State in December 2006 and his master’s degree in 2008. He is married to the former Kody Sprout and the couple has one daughter, Landry.

1: 3-2, vs. Cincinnati, Feb. 18, 2017

50: 5-0, vs. Abilene Christian, May 12, 2018

100: 4-1, at Grambling, March 10, 2020

The Barbier family: Kody, Landry (center) and Bobby

Northwestern State Demon Baseball

CHRIS BERTRAND

Associate Head Coach

Seventh Season at Northwestern State Louisiana College, 2005

There is little Chris Bertrand has not done in his first six years on the Northwestern State baseball coaching staff.

Pitching coach? “Coach Bert” has done that. Coaching infielders? Check. Recruiting coordinator? Place another checkmark there.

As he begins his seventh season with the Demons, Bertrand — the Demon’s associate head coach since the summer of 2021— continues to be the staff’s jack of all coaching trades.

Bertrand’s steady hand has impacted various facets of the Demon program, including his Swiss army knife-like coaching ability.

After two seasons coaching the Demon infielders, Bertrand shifted gears and took over tutoring the NSU catchers in 2020.

In his second season on staff, Bertrand worked alongside head coach Bobby Barbier as his bench coach while tightening up the Northwestern State infield defense.

Working with the NSU infielders for the first time, Bertrand helped craft a group that turned the second-most double plays in school history (70) and finished the season ranked second nationally in double plays per game (1.13) and third in total double plays.

Bertrand did so while shuffling two key members of the Demons infield between second and third base. He also helped junior pitcher Ridge Heisler earn the pitcher’s spot on the Southland Conference All-Defensive Team as Heisler handled all 30 of his chances flawlessly while starting six double plays.

In his first season on staff, Bertrand was the Demons’ pitching coach.

Under Bertrand’s tutelage, senior right-hander Evan Tidwell worked a career-high 82 2-3 innings, allowing him to finish his career ninth in school history in innings pitched (241 2-3). Additionally, sophomore Cullen McDonald tossed two complete games, ranking 58th nationally.

Prior to joining the Demons staff, Bertrand spent four seasons as the head coach at Texas-Tyler.

In those four seasons, Bertrand guided the Patriots to a 119-69 record, three American Southwest Conference championships and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances.

“Chris has been a part of championship programs at every stop and will help us develop that championship culture here at Northwestern State,” head coach Bobby Barbier said.

As the Patriots head coach, Bertrand mentored six all-region players in his final two seasons, including four in 2015, led by American Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year Jaime Paxton. He also coached and recruited a number of players on the Patriots’ squad that captured the 2018 NCAA Division III College World Series championship.

For their efforts, which included a 34-12 record and ASC regular-season and tournament championships, Bertrand and his staff were named the 2015 ASC Coaching Staff of the Year.

Bertrand’s Patriots teams were familiar with success on and off the diamond. In his first season, Bertrand had 13 players named Academic All-ASC while 12 of his players earned All-ASC East Division honors, including East Division Player of the Year Kevan House. House was a first-team All-Region selection that year while teammates Chance Cotton (second team) and Isaac Tijerina (third team) also earned all-region honors.

In all, Bertrand coached 41 all-conference and eight all-region selections at UT Tyler.

In addition to coaching at UT Tyler, Bertrand was the athletic department’s director of external marketing where he enhanced the game day experience for all Patriots athletics and enhanced the exposure and aesthetics of the UT Tyler athletic facilities.

Prior to his tenure at UT Tyler, Bertrand spent seven seasons as the pitching coach and associate head coach at LSU-Shreveport, helping the Pilots reach the NAIA World Series in back-toback seasons (2011, 2012). His 2012 staff held the school records for shutouts (13) and ERA (3.10) until 2015. It still owns the school mark for strikeouts (476).

Bertrand helped coach right-hander Jared Mortensen, a former Houston Astros farmhand, to first-team All-America honors in 2012 and tutored 10 first-team all-conference pitchers in his LSUS tenure.

Bertrand also spent the summer of 2010 as the pitching coach for the Alexandria Aces of the Texas Collegiate League and three years as an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals. Bertrand is a member of the American Baseball Coaches’ Association, the Texas Baseball Coaches Associa-

Coaching

2002-03:

B.BA.,

Wife: Lori

Children: Daughter,

tion and the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association.

He has spoken at the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Convention and the Southern Baseball Association Baseball Recruiting Seminar and has published the article, “General Pitching Mechanics,” for www.insidepitching.com.

Bertrand played two seasons of baseball at Bossier Parish Community College before finishing his career at Louisiana College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He earned his MBA from LSU-Shreveport in 2007.

An Abbeville native, Bertrand is married to the former Lori Quigley of Shreveport and the couple has a daughter, Rayleigh, and a son, Callen.

Betrand with his wife, Lori, their children, Callen (front left) and Rayeigh, and their dog, Rally.

SPENCER GOODWIN

Assistant Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator

Sixth Season at Northwestern State Northwestern State, 2017

A two-year Demons letterman, Spencer Goodwin is in his sixth season on the Northwestern State staff, working primarily with the Demon infielders.

Goodwin also has helmed the Demons’ recruiting efforts for the past two seasons as the staff’s recruiting coordinator.

A two-year letterman for the Demons in 2016 and 2017, Goodwin has worked with the Northwestern State infielders the past three seasons.

Goodwin has helped develop second baseman Daunte Stuart into a twotime All-Southland Conference selection and one of the Southland Conference’s top MLB Draft prospects.

In 2020, his first season following his graduate assistantship, Goodwin helped break in the double-play combination of shortstop Cam Sibley and Stuart, both of whom were in their first seasons of Division I baseball, while working with the Northwestern State infielders.

Stuart earned Freshman All-American honors in 2021, leading the Demons in batting average (.270), home runs (7) and RBIs (30).

Goodwin also helped tutor the Demon hitters and was in charge of NSU’s base running. Under Goodwin’s leadership, Demon position players swiped 15 bases in just 16 games.

Goodwin, Northwestern State’s primary starter at second base for most of his two-year career, led the 2017 Demons in stolen bases (7) while finishing third on the squad in batting average (.278).

In his first season at Northwestern State, Goodwin was a key part of an infield defense that set the school record for double plays in a season (71) while ranking second in the nation in total double plays turned.

Goodwin spent two seasons at Bossier Parish Community College before transferring to Northwestern State where he played in 96 games in two seasons, starting 79 of those contests.

He made an immediate impact, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI in his first collegiate start at Southern Miss on Feb. 26, 2016. Two days later, he delivered his first Division I home run.

A two-time member of the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll, Goodwin graduated in May 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Goodwin earned his master’s degree in health and human performance from NSU in May 2019.

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

NSU COACHING/SUPPORT STAFF

Dan HLAD

Volunteer Assistant Coach

3RD YEAR AT NSU

A key member of the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament champion, Dan Hlad is in his third season on the Northwestern State staff, gaining growing responsibilities with the Demon pitching staff.

In two seasons assisting Bobby Barbier with the NSU pitchers, Hlad has helped three players earn All-Southland Conference honors while Levi David and Johnathan Harmon each became the conference’s top MLB Draft pick in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Hlad spent two seasons at Northwestern State after transferring from Black Hawk College.

A right-handed pitcher, Hlad spent the 2018 season as a swingman, tying for the team lead with 20 appearances, including two starts.

Hlad fashioned a 3-2 record and three saves with a 2.73 ERA while working 56 innings (fourth-most on the team) and started the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament championship game against New Orleans.

Thomas TAYLOR

Director of Baseball Operations

2ND YEAR AT NSU

Thomas Taylor is in his second season as part of the Northwestern State staff, serving as the Demons’ director of baseball operations.

A 2021 graduate of William Carey University, Taylor brings a diverse background to the position, having worked at various levels of both college and professional baseball.

A Flowood, Mississippi, native, Taylor comes to NSU after spending the 2021 season as the director of equipment operations at William Carey. During the season, Taylor worked with the Crusaders outfielders, helping the team post a 36-12 record and reach the O’Fallon Regional.

Prior to returning to college baseball, Taylor spent 2019 and the spring of 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He was invited to work with the Brewers’ clubhouse staff at spring training in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered Arizona operations.

Taylor had joined the Carolina Mudcats, Milwaukee’s Hi-A affiliate, following the conclusion of the 2019 season. During the 2019 campaign, Taylor was an assistant groundskeeper with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in the Milwaukee organization. Taylor was part of a staff that helped MGM Park finish as the No. 2 rated field in the Southern League. He later became was the home clubhouse manager with the Shuckers, working with their staff and with Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell.

Trevor WREN

Director of Player Development

3RD YEAR AT NSU

In 2022, Wren helped Jeffrey Elkins earn All-Southland Defensive Team honors while blasting a career-best 13 home runs.

In Wren’s first season, he played a key role in helping Larson Fontenot enjoy a career-best season offensively (.300, 12 stolen bases) as part of a rotating cast of players that overcame injuries throughout 2021.

Wren spent two seasons (2019-20) at Andrew College in Georgia, working primarily with the team’s hitters and outfielders. He also coached ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove winner Brenton Phillips.

Wren, an Ohio native, earned his undergraduate degree in sport management at Schreiner, earning Academic All-SCAC honors in all four years, and completed his master’s degree in sport administration at Northwestern State in May 2022.

A four-year letterman at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, Wren was a three-year team captain who posted a .311 career batting average while playing first base and also pitching. He was a member of the 2018 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team.

Joe CRAIGHEAD

Graduate Manager

1ST YEAR AT NSU

Joe Craighead is in his first year as a graduate manager with the Northwestern State baseball program.

Craighead comes to NSU after spending the past three years as the head student manager and head of operations at Louisiana Tech where he worked under former Demon skipper Lane Burroughs.

While at Louisiana Tech, Craighead assisted in day-to-day operations of the Bulldog program, including setting up for practice, facilitating practice drills, creating and organizing scouting reports and assisting with team travel.

An August 2022 Louisiana Tech graduate in kinesiology, health and physical education, Craighead has worked with the CATS and Ruston Reds youth baseball organizations and was an assistant coach at Choudrant Junior High School in his hometown.

Craighead is pursuing a master’s degree in adult learning and development at Northwestern State.

Elizabeth HOLLOLWAY

Administrative Assistant

27TH YEAR AT NSU

Elizabeth Holloway — known to the NSU athletic department as Ms. E — handles administrative duties for Demon football, baseball and track. For the last 20 years, she has gotten to work with the best coaches, staff and student-athletes an administrative assistant could ever ask for.

Ms. E and her husband Ted settled in Natchitoches 30 years ago. For five years, she worked in the athletic compliance office, then briefly worked at her husband’s jewelry store. She came back to Northwestern State in 2001. She considers her time here one of the greatest blessings in her life.

assistant.

Wren spent his first two years in Natchitoches working with the NSU outfielders, seeing a pair of them enjoy career-best seasons.

Ms. E is great grandmother to Leo Mercer, 6, and Mateo, 1, her grandson Jacob’s sons. Jacob lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife Karla, and works while attending UAB. Ms. E’s granddaughter Kate also lives in Birmingham, and recently graduated from Birmingham-Southern. Amy Abeyta, Ms. E’s daughter, is the assistant vice president of Communications at BSC. She is married to her husband Adam Abeyta. Ms. E’s son, Tim Bickers, recently moved back to Natchitoches and is employed by Rhodes Properties.

Trevor Wren is in his third season on the Northwestern State baseball staff, serving as the Demons’ director of player development following two years as a graduate

NSU SPORTS MEDICINE STAFF

Jason DRURY 17TH YEAR AT NSU

Kristina OVERHOLT

Director of Sports Medicine

Now in his 17th season at Northwestern State, Jason Drury was promoted to director of sports medicine in 2012 after the retirement of long-time athletic trainer Ed Evans. Drury joined the sports medicine staff at Northwestern State University in the summer of 2005 after being the head athletic trainer at Natchitoches Central for five years.

Drury was instrumental in developing Northwestern State’s partnership with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, which doubled NSU’s full-time sports medicine staff in 2015.

In the spring of 2009, Drury took over as the head football athletic trainer for the Demons, after working for three seasons with the women’s soccer team and one season with men’s basketball team.

A 1999 graduate of Idaho State University in biology, Drury worked with numerous sports in Pocatello, Idaho, including football, men’s basketball and track and field.  Drury earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern State in 2001, during which time he worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the NSU softball team.

Drury is a native of Paoli, Indiana. He and his wife, Toni, have been married for 17 years. They have two children, Maddox and Kenzie.

Brittany GOLDBERG

Associate Director of Sports Medicine

4TH YEAR AT NSU

Brittany Goldberg was promoted to Northwestern State’s associate director of sports medicine in June of 2021 after serving three seasons as the primary baseball and assistant football athletic trainer.

Goldberg, who was a graduate assistant with women’s soccer, returned to Northwestern State as its assistant director of sports medicine in the summer of 2018 after a stint at UL Lafayette.

She played a key role in helping the 14-sport athletics department navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, which included developing and implementing testing and quarantine protocols that aligned with regional and national standards.

Goldberg took charge of reporting COVID-19 test results for the department, which routinely occurred three times per week during all competitive seasons.

The Lake Havasu City, Arizona, native graduated from Northwestern State with a masters in health and human performance with a concentration in health promotion in May 2018, after spending two years working as an athletic trainer with soccer, spring volleyball, tennis and football.

The Southern Utah graduate earned a degree in athletic training and exercise science while serving two athletics seasons with duties ranging from emergency care, rehabilitation and baseline concussion testing.

Her sport assignments included football, softball, men’s basketball, gymnastics, cross country, track and field, volleyball and tennis. Goldberg served Parowan High School in a variety of sports as well as the Utah High School Activities Association football championships.

Goldberg is a licensed athletic trainer by the State of Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners, a BOC certified athletic trainer and a Red Cross certified professional rescuer. Goldberg, a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers’ Association, was awarded the Big Sky Football Officials Association Student Athletic Trainer Scholarship in 2015.

Assistant Director of Sports Medicine

3RD YEAR AT NSU

Kristina Overholt was promoted to assistant director of sports medicine at Northwestern State this May after excelling as a graduate assistant for two seasons.

She remains the primary athletic trainer for women’s soccer and will supervise all athletic trainers in Prather Coliseum. Overholt served for two seasons as the primary athletic trainer for soccer along with other secondary sports.

The Lynchburg, Virginia, native graduated with her masters in health and human performance with a concentration in sports administration from Northwestern State this May and from James Madison in 2019 with a bachelors of science in athletic training.

At JMU, she worked with women’s field hockey, women’s soccer, and within the university’s recreation center athletic training room, which included the men’s and women’s club rugby teams. Overholt also worked with a local high school.

Overholt has also been teaching CPR and First Aid and assisting with various classes as a part of NSU’s health and human performance department.

She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers’ Association, Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association and Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Kalevi

PAJULUOMA

Assistant Director of Sports Medicine

3RD YEAR AT NSU

Kalevi Pajuluoma was named Northwestern State’s assistant director of sports medicine in August 2020 after spending one season as a graduate assistant athletic trainer on the NSU staff.

After one season with the men’s basketball team, Pajuluoma became the primary tennis and assistant football athletic trainer.

He was part of a medical staff that guided NSU’s 14-sport athletics department through the COVID-19 pandemic, which included developing and implementing testing and quarantine protocols that aligned with regional and national standards.

Pajuluoma spent three years at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for his undergraduate degree, assisting with men’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s tennis and track and field.

Pajuluoma gained additional experience as a volunteer with the Manning Passing Academy. He also volunteers on the Professional Development Committee for Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training in 2018 and a masters degree in sports administration in 2021.

High School:

38 JC ACOSTA

Pitcher 5-10 • 175 • Freshman • R/R

Lafayette, La. • Teurlings Catholic HS

• Four-year letterman for coach Brooks Badeaux’s Rebels.

• went 6-0 with three saves and pitched to a 1.75 ERA as a senior, earning all-district and all-region honors.

• helped Teurlings win 50 games in his final two seasons and reach the quarterfinals as a senior and the state semifinals as a junior.

• lettered two seasons in football for coach Dane Charpentier.

• class valedictorian had a 4.0 GPA and was selected to the Academic All-State team.

Personal:

• Born Sept. 27, 2003.

• son of Jenny and John Acosta.

• has one sister, Emily.

• majoring in biology.

• plans to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.

• life’s ambition is to stay positive and never give up.

35 AJ BAILEY

Infielder

5-10 • 200 • R-Freshman • R/R

Zachary, La. • Zachary HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Summer 2022:

• Played for Louisiana Black in the Southeast Collegiate League.

2022 Season:

• Did not see action, redshirted.

High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach Jacob Fisher’s Broncos.

• helped Zachary reach the state playoffs as a senior and as a sophomore.

• graduated with a 3.8 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born May 6, 2003.

• son of Octavia Cobb and Leon Bailey Jr.

• majroing in health and exercise science and has a 3.2 GPA.

• life’s ambition is to be successful in every aspect of his life.

34 Drayton BROWN

Right-Handed Pitcher

6-3 • 215 • Junior • R/R Nacogdoches, Texas • Hallsville HS

2023 No. 25 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com) 2022 Southland Conference All-Academic First Team 2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2022 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List

2022 Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team Relief Pitcher 2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Made a successful transition to the starting rotation, tying for second on the team with 13 starts and ranking second in strikeouts (63).

• finished in the top 100 nationally in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.99, 64th).

• tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven in a May 1 win against Southeastern.

• worked six innings of two-run ball, striking out four, to earn a win at Nicholls on April 16.

• tossed six shutout innings with six strikeouts, taking a no-decision in an April 3 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

• won his third straight start, tossing 5 2-3 innings at New Orleans on March 27.

• struck out a career-high eight and earned his second straight win against South Dakota State on March 19.

• earned his first win as a starter, allowing one hit in five shutout innings against Alcorn on March 13.

• allowed one hit and one run in a career-long six innings at UT Arlington March 6.

• made the first start of his collegiate career, working five innings and allowing two runs in taking a no-decision against SFA on Feb. 20.

2021 Season:

• NSU’s top reliever led the team in appearances (17), ERA (1.96) and saves (6).

• worked 13 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings across eight appearances from April 24-May 26.

• closed the Demons’ 7-3 win at LSU on May 18 with two perfect innings, striking out three.

#ForkEm

• posted three scoreless innings to earn a save on May 15 against Stephen F. Austin in his hometown of Nacodgoches, Texas.

• spun two scoreless innings to earn his second win as the Demons rallied past McNeese in Game 1 of a May 8 doubleheader.

• worked a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn a save against McNeese in Game 2 on May 7.

• picked up a three-inning save in the series opener at Central Arkansas on April 30.

• turned in a pair of scoreless appearances against Nicholls (April 24-25).

• struck out a career-high six in 2 2-3 innings of relief of an April 16 loss at Houston Christian.

• notched his second save of the season, working 3 2-3 innings in the series-opening win against Lamar on April 10.

• picked up his first career win, working a career-long 5 2-3 innings of shutout relief in a 12-inning win at Abilene Christian on April 1.

• matched his career high with five strikeouts in 2 2-3 innings of relief at Sam Houston on March 19.

• worked a career-long 4 1-3 scoreless innings against Incarnate Word (Game 2) on March 13.

• fanned a then-career-high five in four innings against Tarleton (Game 1) on Feb. 27, earning his first career save.

• struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning of his NSU debut at Southern Miss (Game 2) on Feb. 21.

High School:

• Four-year letterman for coach Scott Mitchell’s Bobcats.

• named one of the top 10 Class 5A Players to Watch by THSB Magazine as well as an Under Armour Baseball Factory Preseason All-American and a Rawlings Perfect Game Preseason All-American.

• Hallsville was 12-1 and ranked No. 7 in Class 5A in the shortened 2020 season.

• led Texas Class 5A in strikeouts and ERA as a junior, earning first-team all-state honors as a pitcher and honorable mention all-state acclaim as a first baseman and was named honorable mention all-East Texas at Nacogdoches High School.

• was a finalist for USA Today’s All-USA Baseball Player of the Year in the Frontier Region.

• named to the Texas High School Coaches Association Team Texas Junior Sunbelt Classic team.

• prior to his junior year was named a Rawlings Perfect Game Preseason All-American then tossed three no-hitters and four one-hitters and batted .341 that season.

• second-team all-district pitcher as a sophomore.

• three-year football letterman was a first-team all-district fullback as a senior and a second-team all-district center as a junior for coaches Bobby Reyes and Darren Allman, helping lead Nacogdoches to the playoffs as a junior.

• member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a class officer.

• graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and was part of the National Honor Society, an honor graduate, a Texas Scholar with Merit and an HISD Education Foundation Top 10 Percent Scholar.

• was a Class 5A Academic All-State football selection, a four-time academic all-district baseball pick and a three-time academic all-district football performer.

Personal:

• Born Born Dec. 16, 2001.

• son of Tori and Ricky Brown.

• has one sister, Ashton.

• majoring in business administration and has a 4.0 grade point average.

• wants to open a business or work in a business field.

• life’s ambition is to be successful in life, both on and off the field, and to be remembered as a competitor and a good teammate.

Tyler BRYAN

Pitcher

6-2 • 205 • Freshman • R/R

Beckville, Texas • Beckville HS

High School:

• Four-year letterman for coach Alex Davis’ Bearcats.

• earned first-team all-district honors as a pitcher three times.

• helped lead Beckville to 50 wins in his final two seasons.

• earned Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.

• two-year football letterman helped Beckville go 27-3 in his career.

• earned first-team all-district honors as a linebacker twice and was a third-team all-district tight end as a senior.

• also was a regional track finalist.

Personal:

• Born Aug. 15, 2004.

• son of Misty and John Bryan.

• majoring in health and human performance.

• plans to become a physical therapist.

• life’s ambition is to open his own physical therapy clinic.

3 Lathen BUZARD

Infielder

6-3 • 205 • Freshman • R/R

Richmond, Texas • Fort Bend Travis HS

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coach Rick Grimm’s Tigers.

• earned first-team all-district honors as a senior.

• National Honor Society member had a 4.0 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born Dec. 9, 2003.

• son of Kim and Chris Buzard.

• has one sister, Landre.

• majoring in business administration and plans to enter that field.

• life’s ambition is to have fun.

Carson CAREY

Catcher

6-2

• 215 • Freshman • R/R

Bossier City, La. • Airline HS

4

High School:

• Four-year letterman for coach Toby Todd’s Vikings.

• earned first-team all-district honors as a utility player as a junior.

• helped Airline reach the playoffs twice in his career.

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 7.0, 2x (last vs. Southeastern, May 1, 2022)

Strikeouts: 8, vs. Houston Christian, April 24, 2022

• posted a 4.04 weighted GPA.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 7, 2004.

• son of Valeria and Robert Carey.

• cousin of Baltimore Orioles farmhand Zach Watson.

• majoring in business administration.

• plans to continue playing baseball and to be successful in whatever business endeavors he pursues.

• life’s ambition is “to be kind, humble and make the world a better place before I leave it.”

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

Cal CARVER

Left-Handed Pitcher

6-3 • 190 • Senior • L/L

San Antonio, Texas • Reagan HS (Wichita State)

2023 Preseason Second-Team All-Southland Conference Starting Pitcher

2022 Second-Team All-Southland Conference Starting Pitcher

2022 Preseason First-Team All-Southland Conference Starting Pitcher

2022 Season:

2021 Third-Team All-Southland Conference Pitcher

• Led the Demons in starts (14), innings pitched (84.0) and strikeouts (71), earning his second straight all-conference honor.

• allowed four earned runs in 7 1-3 innings to earn his fourth win of the season against McNeese on May 6.

• tossed his second straight quality start (6 IP, 2 ER) and took a no-decision in an April 22 win against Houston Christian.

• notched quality start No. 4 on the season, allowing three earned runs in six innings at Nicholls on April 14.

• limited Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to six hits and two runs across eight innings, earning his third win of the season on April 1.

• turned in his third quality start of the season, allowing two unearned runs in six innings to earn the win against South Dakota State on March 18.

• picked up his second win of the season, striking out a career-high 11 in five innings against Alcorn on March 12.

• struck out eight in six innings against Nebraska, posting a quality start (2 ER) against his hometown Huskers.

• allowed two runs in six-plus innings in a no-decision against Oklahoma on Feb. 25 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

2021 Season:

• Led the Demons with 14 starts and paced the team in innings pitched (84.2) and starters’ ERA (3.19).

• ranked 33rd nationally with three complete games and 93rd in hits per nine innings (7.02).

• took a no-decision despite a quality start (6 2-3 IP, 1 ER) in his first Southland Conference Tournament start at Southeastern Louisiana on May 26.

• tied his career long with eight innings, scattering four hits and three runs, to earn a win against McNeese in Game 2 of a May 7 doubleheader.

• did not allow an earned run in an eight-inning complete game at Central Arkansas on April 30.

• tossed his second complete game of the season, beating Houston Christian (Game 1) with eight strikeouts on April 17.

• spun his first career complete game, beating Sam Houston (Game 1) with 10 strikeouts on March 20.

• started the season with 22 2-3 scoreless innings before surrendering a two-run home run against Incarnate Word (Game 1) on March 13.

• struck out a career-high 10 against UIW (Game 1) on March 13.

• tossed seven scoreless innings, striking out seven and earning the win in a 4-0 shutout of Austin Peay on March 6.

• earned his first win as a starter at Northwestern State, tossing five scoreless innings in a 2-1 win against Tarleton (Game 1) on Feb. 27.

• struck out four in four scoreless innings at Southern Miss (Game 2) on Feb. 21.

2020 Season:

• Made four appearances, including a pair of Saturday starts.

• did not allow more than one earned run in his four appearances.

• struck out a career-high nine, scattering four hits and two runs (one earned) against Eastern Illinois on Feb. 29.

• picked up his first win as a Demon, striking out seven in five hitless, scoreless innings of relief in the second game of a Feb. 22 doubleheader sweep of North Alabama.

• made his NSU debut Feb. 15 against Wichita State, allowing two hits and a run with a strikeout against his former team.

Prior to NSU:

• Pitched one season at Wichita State.

• went 3-1 with 18 strikeouts in 24 1-3 innings for the Shockers.

• named to the All-American Conference Academic Team.

• had a 3.3 grade point average.

High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach Chans Chapman’s Rattlers.

• owns the school record for wins (28) and ranks third in career strikeouts (227) and fourth in career ERA (1.84),

• tied for second in single-season wins (13, junior year) and his 12 wins as a senior are tied for third in school single-season history.

• went 12-1 with a 1.03 ERA and 109 strikeouts as a senior, earning first-team all-state honors from the Texas Sports Writers Association, first-team elite all-state honors from the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and was named first-team All-District 266A, first-team Class 6A State Tournament All-Tournament Team, and was the San Antonio Area Player of the Year.

• was ranked as the No. 24 senior by Texas High School Baseball Magazine and was part of the San Antonio Express News’ top 40 high school athletes.

• named preseason All-American by Perfect Game and Baseball Factory.

• helped lead the Rattlers to the state title game as a senior.

• went 13-3 with a 2.10 ERA and 103 strikeouts as a junior.

• earned first-team All-District 26-6A honors and was a first-team all-state pick by the TSWA.

• second-team all-state selection by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association.

• named to the Express News Super Team after helping lead Reagan to the state title game.

• was a preseason Perfect Game All-American.

• went 3-1 with a 1.12 ERA as a sophomore.

• prep teammate of former Demons infielder Hilton Brown.

• graduated with a 3.3 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born July 28, 2000.

• son of Michelle and Craig Carver.

• majoring in business administration.

• wants to play professional baseball and become a coach or work in real estate.

• life’s ambition is to live life to the fullest.

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 8.0, 4x (last vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, April 1, 2022) Strikeouts: 11, vs. Alcorn, G1, March 12, 2022

Shortstop/Right-Handed Pitcher

6-3 • 180 • Freshman • R/R Houston, Texas • Clear Lake HS

2023 No. 9 Southland Conference Impact Freshman (D1Baseball.com)

Summer 2022:

• Played for Hunter Pence Baseball Academy in the Perfect Game Collegiate League. High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach Josh Bromberg’s Falcons.

• named first-team all-district and third-team all-state as a utility player as a senior after batting .424.

• ranked second on the team in batting average and was Clear Lake’s top pitcher as a junior.

• collected the second most hits on the team as a sophomore.

Personal:

• Born May 5, 2004.

• son of Devin and Patrick Acosta.

• has five sisters — Emma, Brooke, Tina, Sierra and Samantha — and three brothers, Braden, Patrcik and Colton.

• majoring in business administration.

• plans to play professional baseball or become a high school coach.

• life’s ambition is to play Major League Baseball.

14 Gabe COLAIANNI

Outfielder

5-10 • 190 • Junior • L/L Missouri City, Texas • Ridge Point HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2020 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2022 Season:

• Appeared in 52 games, starting 46 in right field, in his sophomore season.

• ranked second on the team with 10 doubles and tied for fifth with 27 RBIs.

• capped his year with the first four-hit game of his career, going 4-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs in an SLC Tournament loss to UIW on May 20.

• cranked his third home run of the season, a two-run blast, to jump-start a comeback win against New Orleans on May 13.

• scored a run in six straight games from May 1-10, topped by a three-run day at McNeese on May 6.

• connected on his second home run of the season — a two-run shot — in a May 7 win at McNeese

• went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the season in an April 29 loss to Southeastern.

• posted his third three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4, in the Demons’ April 16 win at Nicholls.

• hit safely in a career-best seven straight games from March 19-April 2, batting .435 (10 for 23) in that span.

• went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs in an April 1 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

• extended his hit streak to five games with a two-hit game at New Orleans on March 27.

• notched his second career triple and a pair of RBIs in a March 15 win against Lamar.

• enjoyed his first three-hit day, tying a career high with three RBIs, in a March 12 Game 2 win against Alcorn.

• drew a career-high three walks against Alcorn in Game 1 of a March 12 doubleheader.

2021 Season:

• Appeared in seven games, starting five, in his freshman season.

• drove in a pair of runs with a double in a win against Austin Peay on March 5.

• made the most of his first career home run, a three-run, walk-off shot to cap the Demons’ doubleheader sweep of Tarleton on Feb. 27.

2020 Season:

• Appeared in one game, the March 10 season finale at Grambling.

• tripled on the first pitch he saw as a collegiate hitter and scored the tying run in an eventual 4-1 NSU victory and finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk.

High School:

• Four-year letterman for Clinton Welch’s Panthers.

• named first-team all-district as a senior, helping lead Ridge Point to the Class 6A state championship game,

• participated in the Houston Senior All-Star Game.

• first-team all-district selection as a junior and was named Ridge Point’s Outstanding Hitter.

• started every game as a sophomore.

• helped Ridge Point advance to the state playoffs in each of his four seasons.

• earned the academic excellence award as a freshman.

• graduated with a 3.5 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born Aug. 10, 2000.

• son of Mary and Greg Colaianni.

• has one brother, Lucas.

• majoring in business administration and has a 3.3 grade point average.

• plans to work in medical sales.

• life’s ambition is to continue working hard and to leave a positive impact on the people around him.

40 Gus COLLINS

Right-Handed PItcher

6-4 • 224 • Junior • R/R

Pryor, Oklahoma• Pryor HS (NE Oklahoma A&M/Arkansas)

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 6, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022

Hits: 4, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022

Runs Scored: 3, at McNeese, 5/6/22

RBI: 3, 4x (last vs. Incarnate Word, 5/20/22)

Stolen Bases: 1, 2x (last at McNeese, 5/6/22)

Walks: 3, 2x (last vs. ULM, 5/10/22)

Home Runs: 1, 4x (last vs. New Orleans, 5/13/22)

Summer 2022:

• Played for the Lafayette Aviators in the Prospect League.

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 17 games, starting one, in his first Division I season.

• led the Demons’ relievers with 39 strikeouts in relief.

• recorded the final four outs of a May 6 win at McNeese, working 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief.

• notched a win in his second consecutive appearance, working three innings of one-run relief against Houston Christian on April 22.

• picked up his second win of the year, striking out five in two perfect innings of relief against LSU-Alexandria on April 19.

• spun 3 1-3 scoreless innings of relief at Incarnate Word on April 9.

• earned his first career win, tossing the final four innings of NSU’s 1-0, 10-inning victory against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 3.

• struck out seven in his first career start, tossing four shutout innings against Grambling on March 23.

• fanned a career-high eight batters in 4 1-3 innings of relief against South Dakota State on March 17.

• covered two scoreless innings against Oklahoma at Globe Life Field on Feb. 26.

• made his NSU debut, striking out four in 3 1-3 innings of relief against Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 18.

Prior to NSU:

• Went 3-3 with 66 strikeouts in 48 innings at Northeastern Oklahoma.

High School:

• Four-year starter for coach Gerald Osborne with a combined record of 118-33.

• helped lead the Tigers to their 1st State Championship in 2019 with a 38-3 record.

• went 9-0 with a 1.44 ERA and batted .422 with 24 extra base hits during 2019.

• earned 2019 All State and Conference Player of the Year

• named 2019 Max Prep All American

• helped lead Pryor to a 29-9 record and a state runner-up finish in 2018.

• finished his career with a 24-5 record and a 2.01 ERA.

• ranked the No. 1 first baseman in Oklahoma by Perfect Game.

• Oklahoma’s 14th-ranked player overall by PBR.

Personal:

• Born Sept. 19, 2000.

• son of Marianne and Rob Collins.

• has one brother, Si.

• majoring in health and human performance.

• plans to coach baseball after his playing career finishes.

• life’s ambition is to spread love for the game of baseball and lead people toward Christ.

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 4.1, vs. South Dakota State, March 17, 2022

Strikeouts: 8, vs. South Dakota State, March 17, 2022

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

41 Andrew COSSIO

Right-Handed PItcher

6-0 • 187 • Senior • R/R Spring, Texas • Spring HS (McLennan CC)

2023 No. 11 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 No. 12 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 14 games, starting two, in his second season with the Demons.

• picked up his second win with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts at McNeese on May 7.

• earned his first career win, tossing one inning of relief against Grambling on March 23.

• struck out one in 1 1-3 hitless innings of relief at UT Arlington on March 6.

• struck out two in two scoreless innings to earn his first career save in a Feb. 25 win against Oklahoma.

• fanned a career-best four in two scoreless innings of his season debut, a Feb. 19 win against Stephen F. Austin.

2021 Season:

• Made five relief appearances in his first season as a Demon.

• limited LSU to one hit in 3 1-3 innings of relief in NSU’s 7-3 win on May 14.

• worked 1 1-3 perfect innings in a Game 1 loss to McNeese on May 7.

• retired both batters he faced in his Southland Conference debut in Game 1 of an April 2 doubleheader at Abilene Christian.

• made his Northwestern State debut in relief at ULM on Feb. 24, allowing two runs in 2-3 of an inning while striking out one.

Prior to NSU:

• Pitched two seasons at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.

• appeared in three games in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, tossing scoreless innings in two of those appearances.

• appeared in eight games, striking out 10 batters in 11 innings, as a freshman.

• graduated with a 3.3 grade point average.

High School:

• Pitched and played the outfield for coaches Lou Ferrell, Jeremy Willis and Scott Geirzack at Spring High School.

• batted .440 with eight RBIs and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage as a senior.

Personal:

• Born July 18, 2000.

• son of Olga and Gabriel Cossio.

• has one brother, Alan, an areospace engineer, and one sister, Alyssa.

• majoring in kinesiology and plans to coach baseball in Texas or play professionally.

• life’s ambition is to follow Christ.

Brayden CUST

Outfielder

Sherwood Park, Alberta • Salisbury Composite HS (Colby CC)

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 3.1, at LSU, May 18, 2021

Strikeouts: 4, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Feb. 19, 2022

Summer 2022:

• Played for the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the Western Canadian Baseball League. Prior to NSU:

• Two-time Gold Glove winner at Colby Community College.

• helped lead the Trojans to consecutive Super Regional appearances.

• batted .460 as a freshman for the Trojans.

High School:

• Played at Salisbury Composite High School.

• invited to play for Team Rawlings in the Perfect Game national tournament in Georgia.

• threw a no-hitter at the T12 Blue Jays Tournament in Rogers Centre.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 19, 2000.

• son of Donna and Rick Velsnik.

• majoring in psychology.

• wants to become a firefighter.

• life’s ambition is to play Major League Baseball.

Michael DATTALO

Infielder

6-0

• 205

• Freshman • R/R

Keller, Texas • Keller HS

Summer 2022:

• Played for Impact Baseball Club Worley in the Five Tool Collegiate League, earning honorable mention all-summer honors.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coach Rob Stramp’s Indians.

• earned first-team all-state honors (coaches), second-team all-state acclaim (sports writers) and an all-region selection after batting .356 with 31 RBIs as a senior.

• ranked 13th in the state of Texas in doubles.

• first-team all-district and all-area pick as a junior after batting .408 with 35 RBIs and a .510 OBP.

• his 51 hits ranked sixth in the state of Texas.

• helped Keller reach the state title game as a junior and the regional finals as a senior.

• three-year hockey letterman.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 22, 2004.

• son of Michelle and Todd Dattalo.

• has two sisters, Daniella and Gabriella.

• majoring in industrial engineering technology.

• plans to work in construction.

• life’s ambition is to play baseball as long as he can.

54 Jeffrey ELKINS

Outfielder

5-10 • 195 • Senior • R/R

Lafayette, La. • Ascension Episcopal HS (UL Lafayette)

2023 No. 26 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Southland Conference All-Defensive LF

2020 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2019 Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference

2019 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 53 games, starting 48, as the Demons’ primary left fielder.

• led Northwestern State in home runs (13) and slugging percentage (.556) and was second in battnig average (.278), raking second in the Southland Conference in home runs.

• homered in back-to-back games at LSU and against Nicholls from May 17-19, his second set of back-to-back homers of the season.

• hit safely in a career-long 12 straight games from April 19-May 7, going 15-for-45 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in that stretch.

• posted his first career multi-home run game, hitting a pair of three-run home runs — one an inside-the-park home run — at McNeese on May 6.

• started back-to-back home runs with Gray Rowlett in the seventh inning of an April 26 win at Grambling.

• blasted a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the eighth inning of NSU’s April 19 win against LSU-Alexandria.

• connected on his sixth home run of the season, matching his career high, on April 10 at Incarnate Word.

• homered as part of a 3-for-6, two-RBI day in a March 27 win at New Orleans.

• homered for the second straight game, connecting on a first-inning solo blast at New Orleans on March 25.

• drilled a game-tying home run over the center-field wall against Grambling on March 23.

• capped a 10-RBI series against Alcorn by going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs on March 13.

• went 3-for-3 with a home run, a career-best four runs scored and a career-high five RBIs in the second game of a March 12 doubleheader against Alcorn.

2021 Season:

• NSU’s primary left fielder appeared in and started 40 games.

• ranked second on the team with six home runs and in stolen bases (11) and tied for third with 21 RBIs.

• homered in his first at-bat and went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in a 7-3 win at LSU on May 18.

• homered in his final at-bat of the series against Stephen F. Austin on May 16.

• delivered the second walk-off hit of his career, a 10th-inning single, to beat McNeese in Game 1 of a May 9 doubleheader.

• homered twice in the four-game series against Lamar, doing so in Game 1 of back-toback April 10-11 doubleheaders.

• drove in the game-winning run with a two-out, 10th-inning single in an April 3 win at Abilene Christian.

• had his third two-steal game of the season in an April 1 win at Abilene Christian.

• connected on a two-run, seventh-inning single to put the Demons ahead to stay in a win against LSUA on March 30.

• homered and drove in two runs in a March 27 loss to South Alabama.

• notched his second two-steal game of the season in a March 26 loss to South Alabama.

• singled twice and scored three runs in the Demons’ walk-off win against Incarnate Word on March 14.

• had his first two hits of the season -- including a two-run home run -- in a win against Austin Peay on March 5.

2020 Season:

• Started all 15 games he appeared in, playing left field (9) and center field (6).

• drew the second-most walks on the team (11) and finished fourth in RBIs (11).

• opened the scoring with a two-run, fourth-inning home run at Southern on March 3.

• crushed a two-run home run against North Alabama in the Feb. 23 series finale, finishing with a career-high-tying three RBIs.

• lifted NSU to a walk-off win in game one of a Feb. 22 doubleheader against North Alabama with a two-out, two-run single.

2019 Season:

• Appeared in 52 games, starting 49 as NSU’s primary left fielder.

• finished third among Demons qualifiers in batting average (.284), shared the team lead

with Caleb Ricca in triples (3) and finished second in doubles (16).

• tied for second on the team with 17 multi-hit games, including five three-hit games.

• snapped a 7-all tie with his first career home run, a two-run shot, against Nicholls on April 5.

• added home runs against McNeese (April 20) and Incarnate Word (May 12, Game 1).

• capped a four-run ninth inning in a 7-5 March 31 win at Houston Baptist with an RBI double.

• swiped three bases in an 8-1 win against New Orleans on March 17.

• delivered the go-ahead two-run double in NSU’s 3-1 win against LSU on March 12.

• tied the school record with two triples against in Game 2 of a doubleheader against Little Rock on March 2, driving in a run and scoring another.

Prior to NSU:

• Spent one semester at UL Lafayette before transferring.

High School:

• Was homeschooled and played one season at Ascension Episcopal for coach Lonny Landry.

• named the Class 1A state championship game Most Valuable Player, Class 1A All-State MVP and first-team All-American.

• graduated with a 3.0 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born May 11, 1999.

• son of Jennifer and Shannon Elkins.

• two sisters, Lauren and Julianna, and one brother, Graham.

• graduated in May 2022 with a degree in business administration.

• plans to pursue a professional baseball career.

• life’s ambition is to make the world a better place.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 6, 3x (last at New Orleans, March 27, 2022)

Hits: 3, 7x (last at New Orleans, March 27, 2022)

Runs Scored: 4, vs. Alcorn (G2), March 12, 2022

RBI: 6, at McNeese, May 6, 2022

Stolen Bases: 3, vs. New Orleans, March 17, 2019

Walks: 3, 3x (last vs. Nicholls, May 19, 2022)

Home Runs: 2, at McNeese, May 6, 2022

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

21 Jacob FARRELL

Outfielder 6-1

200 • Junior • R/R

Cypress, Texas • Cy-Fair HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 19 games, starting three, while serving as NSU’s top pinch-running option.

• hit safely in a career-long three straight games from May 1-17 and reached base in his final four appearances of the season.

• had a pinch-hit single at LSU on May 17.

• had a key infield single in the 10th-inning of a May 7 win at McNeese.

• notched his first hit of the season — a double — against Southeastern on May 1.

• stole his first base of the season as a pinch runner on March 27 at New Orleans.

• scored a run in three straight games from March 18-23.

2021 Season:

• Appeared in 23 games, starting three, as a third-year freshman.

• collected his first hit of the season, a pinch-hit single, against Lamar on April 10.

• set up the winning run in an April 3 victory at Abilene Christian with a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt.

2020 Season:

• Appeared in four games, starting three in left field, in his redshirt freshman season.

• hit safely in two of his three starts.

• went 1-for-4 with a double in his first career start, the second game of the Feb. 22 doubleheader against North Alabama.

• singled and scored the game-winning run in his NSU debut — a 4-3 win against North Alabama in game one of the Feb. 22 doubleheader.

2019 Season:

• Redshirted.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coach Billy Hardin’s Bobcats.

• missed senior season with an injury.

• helped lead Cy Fair to consecutive playoff berths in his sophomore and junior seasons.

• two-year football letterman who helped lead Cy Fair to the state title game as a senior under coach Ed Pustejovsky.

• first-team all-district selection after scoring five touchdowns and gaining 450 all-purpose yards as a slot receiver.

• three-time academic all-district selection graduated with a weighted 6.02 grade point average.

• cum laude graduate was a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Younglife.

Personal:

• Born Dec. 16, 1999.

• son of Teri and John Farrell.

• two sisters, Abbie and Anna, and one brother, Josh.

• earned his undergraduate degreein business in May 2022.

• plans to play professional baseball.

• life’s ambition is to have a positive impact on everyone he meets and interacts with.

45 Dawson FLOWERS

Right-Handed PItcher

6-4 • 210 • Sophomore • R/R

Brookhaven, Miss. • Brookhaven Academy (Miss. Gulf Coast CC)

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2022 Season:

• Led Demon relievers with 19 relief appearances and started at LSU on May 17.

• had 11 scoreless appearances in his first Division I season.

• tossed a scoreless eighth inning in the Southland Conference Tournament against Incarnate Word on May 20.

• tossed two scoreless innings, striking out three, in an April 26 win at Grambling.

• collected his second save of the season, recording the final five outs of an April 2 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

• picked up his first career save, working three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, against South Dakota State on March 18.

• capped a run of four straight scoreless appearances with a scoreless 1 1-3 innings at ULM on March 9.

• worked a career-high three innings, allowing only a single, on March 4 against Nebraska.

• made his NSU debut, allowing one unearned run with two strikeouts in one inning against Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 20.

Prior to NSU:

• Pitched two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

• went 4-4 with a save and pitched to a 4.20 ERA in 68 innings, striking out 61 and tossing four complete games in 2021, earning honorable mention all-state honors.

• had a save and 11 strikeouts in five innings of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

High School:

• Three-sport standout at Brookhaven Academy, playing football, baseball and basketball.

• four-year baseball letterman helped coach Tyler Parvin’s Cougars win state titles in his junior and senior seasons.

• earned first-team all-state honors in baseball as a junior and senior, nabbing MVP honors as a senior and pitching MVP honors as a junior.

• first-team all-district pick as a sophomore and second-team honoree as a freshman.

• four-year basketball letterman for coach Josh Watts was the MAIS AA Player of the Year as a senior and a three-time, first-team all-district selection.

• named Defensive MVP in basketball as a junior and was the district and team MVP as a senior.

• second-team all-district basketball player as a freshman.

• two-year football letterman helped coach Ron Rushing’s Cougars to a state semifinal berth as a senior.

• earned first-team all-state honors in both seasons on the gridiron.

• collected team offensive MVP honors as a senior and the MVP award as a junior.

• named the MAIS Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior.

• class valedictorian graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and was part of the 30+ ACT Club.

Personal:

• Born Nov. 28, 2000.

• son of Becky and David Flowers.

• has two brothers, Drake and Dane.

• majoring in biology with a biomedical concentration and has a 3.9 GPA.

• life’s ambition is “to do everything at the best of my ability and be a Christ-like example for my friends and family.”

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 4, 3x (last vs. Southeastern, April 30, 2022)

Hits: 1, 7x (last at LSU, May 17, 2022)

Runs Scored: 1, 14x (last vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022)

RBI: N/A

Stolen Bases: 1, 3x (last at New Orleans, March 27, 2022)

Walks: 1, 2x (last vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022)

Home Runs: N/A

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 3.0, 2x (last vs. South Dakota State, March 18, 2022)

Strikeouts: 4, vs. South Dakota State, March 18, 2022

Ethan FRANCIS

Right-Handed Pitcher

5-11 • 180 • Junior • L/R Miscouche, PEI, Canada • Foothills Composite

15 Kyle FROEHLICH

Right-Handed Pitcher/Designated Hitter

6-1 • 185 • Junior • L/R

(Colby CC)

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll Summer 2022:

• Pitched for the Charlottetown Islanders of the New Brunswick Senior League.

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 11 games, starting three, in his second season at NSU.

• had the best walks per nine inning rate on the team at 2.1.

• notched his first career save with a perfect ninth inning in a May 13 win against New Orleans.

• picked up the win against ULM, allowing two runs in a three-inning, designated short start on May 10.

• worked two scoreless innings, striking out two, in an April 26 win at Grambling.

• struck out a career-high seven in a career-long five innings against LSU-Alexandria on April 19.

• tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout in his Feb. 27 season debut against Oklahoma.

2021 Season:

• Made seven appearances, including one start, in his first season at the Division I level.

• earned his first career win, tossing two scoreless innings in a start at LSU on May 18.

• tossed 1 2-3 scoreless innings at Sam Houston on March 21.

• worked out of a bases-loaded jam with consecutive strikeouts against Incarnate Word on March 13.

• tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one hit, in his Northwestern State debut at ULM on Feb. 24.

Prior to NSU:

• Pitched two seasons at Colby Community College where former Demon Josh Oller was his pitching coach.

• was 3-1 in five appearances (four starts) in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

• went 1-1 with a save in 20 appearances as a freshman, striking out 36 in 31 2-3 innings.

• graduated with a 3.8 grade point average and was a President’s List member.

High School:

• Played two seasons at Foothills Composite.

• helped lead Foothills to championships at the Best of the West, the Butler University 18U Invitational and the Dawgs Mother’s Day Tournament as a senior.

• part of championship teams at the Ohio State Buckeye, the Spokane Invitational and the Dawgs Mother’s Day tournaments as a junior.

• graduated with honors.

Personal:

• Born Feb. 1, 2000.

• son of Nola and Trent Francis.

• majoring in business administration and has a 3.65 grade point average.

• plans to pursue an MBA degree while serving as a graduate assistant.

• life’s ambition is to “do something that I love as a career and raise a family in the United States”

Nipawin, Sask., Canada • L.P. Miller Comprehensive (Colby CC)

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 5.0, vs. LSU-Alexandria, April 19, 2022

Strikeouts: 7, vs. LSU-Alexandria, April 19, 2022

Summer 2022:

• Played for the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the Western Canadian Baseball League. Prior to NSU:

• Played two seasons at Colby Community College.

• batted .295 with nine doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 29 RBIs and notched a pair of wins and 18 strikeouts on the mound in 17 innings pitched in 2022.

• twice named an Academic All-American – earning second-team honors in 2022 and firstteam acclaim in 2021, finishing with a 3.95 GPA.

High School:

• Played three seasons of baseball at L.P. Miller Comprehensive.

• named the Saskatchewan Baseball North Division Pitcher of the Year and the Charlie Meacher MVP.

• earned Saskatchewan Baseball Major Player of the Year honors.

• was L.P. Miller’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year and earned the Brendan Luffman Memorial Scholarship.

• earned a silver medal and a bronze medal in the Ray Carter Cup – Canada’s national baseball cup.

• as a freshman was named the L.P. Miller Junior Male Athlete of the Year and was the Saskatchewan Baseball Minor Player of the Year.

• lettered in volleyball, hockey, track and field and badminton.

• helped L.P. Miller win Bantam and Midget AA hockey championships.

• was a NESSAC badminton doubles gold medalist and a provincial bronze medalist.

• had a pair of top-six provincial finishes as a javelin thrower.

• helped win an NESSAC junior championship in volleyball.

• posted a 4.0 GPA.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 30, 2002.

• son of Jacalyn and Cory Froehlich.

• has one sister, Lauren, and a brother, Clark,w ho died at age 13.

• majoring in business administration.

• wants to play professional baseball or own a business.

• life’s ambition is to play baseball for the kids who never got a chance and to have a successful career and family.

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

Grayson GATES

Right-Handed Pitcher

6-2 • 185 • Freshman • R/R

Benton, La. •Benton HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll Summer 2022:

• Pitched for the Baton Rouge Rougarou of the Texas Collegiate League.

2022 Season:

• Appeared in two games out of the bullpen in his first Division I season.

• made his NSU debut March 17, allowing two runs with a strikeout in an inning of work against South Dakota State on March 17.

High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach J.D. Stephens’ Tigers.

• three-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American and participated in the 2020 New Balance Future Stars Series International Week at Fenway Park.

• went 9-1 on the mound, earning District 1-5A Pitcher of the Year, LBCA Region I Pitcher of the Year, Shreveport Times All-City Pitcher of the Year and LBCA first-team all-state honors and helping Benton win the district title as a senior.

• went 3-0 in his pandemic-shortened junior season.

• went 3-1 for the district champions and state semifinalists as a sophomore, earning all-district honors.

• graduated with a 3.92 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born Nov. 20, 2002.

• son of Amy and Mat Gates.

• has one brother, Grant, and one sister, McKenna.

• majoring in business administration and holds a 3.5 GPA.

• plans to play professional baseball or own a business.

• life’s ambition is to be a good role model for the next generation.

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 1.0, 2x (last at LSU, May 17, 2022)

Strikeouts: 1, 2x (last at LSU, May 17, 2022)

Jake HAZE

Infielder

5-9 • 165 • Junior • S/R

Highlands Ranch, Colo. • ThunderRidge HS (S. Mountain CC)

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 40 games, starting 33, primarily at third base.

• went 2-for-3 with an RBI in a May 7 win at McNeese.

• doubled twice and drove in a run in an April 23 win against Houston Christian.

• hit safely in a season-long five straight games from April 2-14, going 6-for-17 in that stretch.

• went 2-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBIs in an April 2 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

• drove in the go-ahead run for the second straight game in a March 27 win at New Orleans.

• had a pair of hits, including a go-ahead, seventh-inning single, in a March 26 win at New Orleans.

• started a four-game hitting streak by going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs in a March 19 Game 2 win against South Dakota State.

• made his first opening-day start on Feb. 18 against Stephen F. Austin, drawing a pair of hit by pitches.

2021 Season:

• Started 44 of the 47 games he appeared, doing so primarily at third base.

• shared the team lead with eight multi-RBI games and finished second on the team with

23 RBIs

• hit safely in a season-long eight straight games from May 1-15.

• tied the game with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly and capped NSU’s 11-inning with against McNeese in Game 2 of a May 8 doubleheader with a walk-off RBI single.

• delivered a game-tying single with two outs in the ninth inning of NSU’s eventual 10-inning win against McNeese in Game 1 of a May 8 doubleheader.

• drove in the only run of the game for NSU with a sacrifice fly in Game 2 of an April 30 doubleheader at Central Arkansas.

• went 3-for-3 with a stolen base and two RBIs in a Game 1 win against Nicholls on April 24.

• had a game-tying, two-run single in a Game 2 loss at Houston Baptist on April 17.

• knocked in a career-high three runs in a series-opening win against Lamar on April 10.

• had a pair of two-RBI games against South Alabama on March 26 and March 27.

• hit safely in his first three starts, all against Austin Peay from March 5-7.

• went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the game-winner, in his first career start March 5 against Austin Peay.

Prior to NSU:

• Played one season at South Mountain Community College, hitting .341 with five doubles and 12 RBIs in 44 at-bats.

• also scored 15 runs and drew 11 walks before the season was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• first-team Academic All-American posted a 3.9 GPA at South Mountain. High School:

• Four-year letterman for coach Joe White’s Grizzlies.

• second-team all-league selection as a senior, hitting .415 with 11 doubles, one triple, one home run and 20 RBIs.

• scored 20 runs and posted a 17-to-10 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

• named to the Colorado High School All-Star Game.

• was a member of the Colorado Junior Sunbelt Team as a junior when he also was a second-team all-league selection.

• batted .431 as a sophomore, earning second-team all-league honors.

• helped lead ThunderRidge to four playoff appearances, including a state Class 5A quarterfinal berth as a sophomore.

• graduated with a 3.25 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 25, 2000.

• son of Amy and Patrick Haze.

• has one sister, Heidi.

• majoring in business administration with concentrations in accounting and finance and holds a 3.8 GPA.

• plans to find a position in the financial field.

• life’s ambition is to make his family proud.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 6, 2x (last at McNeese, May 6, 2022)

Hits: 3, 2x (last vs. New Orleans, May 13, 2022)

Runs Scored: 2, 6x (last vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022)

RBI: 3, vs. Lamar G1, April 10, 2021

Stolen Bases: 1, 7x (last vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022)

Walks: 3, at Southeastern Louisiana, May 26, 2021

Home Runs: N/A

Cole HILL

Shortstop

5-7

170

Owasso, Oklahoma

•

Rejoice Christian School (NE Okla. A&M)

Broch HOLMES

Outfield

Prior to NSU:

• Played one season each at Missouri State and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

• slashed .318/.450/.457 and ranked 10th in the NJCAA with 39 stolen bases.

• helped NEO finish second in the conference tournament.

• saw action in six games for Missouri State as a freshman.

• named to the Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll, the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, the Dean’s Honor Roll and the President’s Honor Roll.

High School:

• Three-year team captain and four-year letterman for coach Casey Willis at Rejoice Christian School.

• batted .487 with a .606 on-base percentage and 23 steals as a junior.

• helped Rejoice win two district titles.

• honorable mention Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason All-American West Region.

• named the 2020 Rejoice High School Male Athlete of the Year and was an Oklahoma High School All-Star Team selection.

• named first-team All-Pinnacle Conference and was a Team Tulsa member in the Oklahoma State games in 2019.

• also was part of VYPE Oklahoma Magazine’s Top 50.

• played for Team Oklahoma in the 2018 Prep Baseball Report Future Games.

• earned an Area Code Games invitation in 2018.

• four-year football letterman helped Rejoice win a pair of district titles under coach Casey Willis

Personal:

• Born Sept. 25, 2001.

• son of Elicia and Brad Hill, who played soccer at Oklahoma State.

• has one sister, Alexa.

• majoring in business administration.

• plans to play professional baseball then become a coach.

• life’s ambition is to play Major League Baseball.

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2022 Season:

• Started 14 games and appeared in 22 in his first Division I season.

• connected on his first career home run, a three-run, first-inning shot, at Louisiana Tech on April 20.

• singled home a run against South Dakota State on March 18 before exiting with an injury.

• hit safely in six straight games from Feb. 20-March 2, batting .304 (7 for 23) in that stretch.

• singled home the tying and go-ahead runs in the Demons’ Feb. 25 win against Oklahoma at Globe Life Field.

• went 2-for-4 with a double in his NSU debut against Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 18.

Prior to NSU:

• Played two seasons at Howard College.

• earned first-team all-region honors in 2021, batting .350 with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs.

• was hitting .438 with five home runs and 11 RBIs when COVID-19 canceled the remainder of the 2020 season.

• graduated with a 3.6 grade point average.

High School:

• Four-year letterman for coaches Jacob Hooker and Jeff Ashen’s Wildcats.

• named state tournament MVP and Class 2A Player of the Year as a senior as Big Sandy won the state title.

• Class 2A Player of the Year as a junior led the state in home runs as Big Sandy captured the state championship.

• helped Big Sandy to a state runner-up finish as a sophomore.

Personal:

• Born Nov. 30, 2000.

• son of Pam and Paul Holmes.

• brother of former Demon Bryce Holmes.

• majoring in general studies.

• plans to pursue a career in the Army then in law enforcement.

• life’s ambition is to always keep Jesus No. 1.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 5, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Feb. 20, 2022

Hits: 2, 2x (last vs. Oklahoma, Feb. 27, 2022)

Runs Scored: 2, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1, 2022

RBI: 3, at Louisiana Tech, April 20, 2022

Stolen Bases: 1, vs. Oklahoma, Feb. 27, 2022

Walks: 2, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1, 2022

Home Runs: 1, at Louisiana Tech, April 20, 2022

all-district honors.

• helped lead Benton to the playoffs all four years, including a state semifinal appearance as a senior.

• four-year football letterman for coach Reynolds Moore.

• helped the Tigers collect four playoff appearances, including three straight quarterfinal berths.

• honorable mention all-state as a senior when he also earned all-district, all-city and all-parish honors.

• all-parish, all-city and all-district pick as a junior.

• named all-district and all-parish as a sophomore.

• member of the National Honor Society and a three-year member of the A Honor Roll.

• graduated with a 3.7 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born May 5, 2000.

• son of Kara and Tim Horton, a former Demon baseball player.

• has two brothers, Conner and former NSU teammate Cameron, and one sister, Caroline.

• his grandfather, Ed Horton, played football at Northwestern State scored a Demon Stadium-record 19 points against Tarleton State in 1962.

• majoring in health and exercise science and holds a 3.31 grade point average.

• plans to become a physical therapist.

• life’s ambition is “to be the best that I can be at everything I do.”

Cole HORTON

Outfielder

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 4, 5x (last vs. Southeastern, May 1, 2022)

Hits: 2, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Feb. 20, 2022

Runs Scored: 2, at New Orleans, March 27, 2022

RBI: 3, at New Orleans, March 27, 2022

5-9 • 190 • Junior

L/R Bossier City, La. • Benton HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll

2020 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Appeared in a career-high 19 games, starting six, during his sophomore season.

• doubled and drove in a career-high three runs in a March 27 win at New Orleans.

• reached base in six straight plate appearances (5 walks, 1 HBP) coming off the bench from March 12-25).

• had his first career multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI in a March 20 win against Stephen F. Austin.

2021 Season:

• Started nine games and appeared in 16 in his second season at NSU.

• delivered a pinch-hit, RBI single in an April 2 win at Abilene Christian.

• drew a pair of walks, singled and scored a run in a win against LSUA on March 30.

• scored on his brother Cameron’s RBI single against Incarnate Word (Game 2, March 13), helping Cameron record his first NSU RBI.

• collected an RBI in his first start of the season against Incarnate Word (Game 1, March 13).

2020 Season:

• Appeared in seven games, starting four as NSU’s designated hitter.

• tied for the team lead and ranked 78th nationally with two sacrifice flies.

• had his second sac fly against Abilene Christian on March 7.

• drew a walk as a pinch hitter and scored on Tyler Smith’s game-tying, three-run home run at Southern on March 3.

• drew two walks and scored his first career run in his first career start in an 8-2 win against North Alabama on Feb. 21.

• made his collegiate debut as a pinch hitter, singling as part of NSU’s three-run seventh inning in a 3-2 win against Wichita State on Feb. 16.

High School:

• Four-year letterman for coach J.D. Stephens’ Tigers.

• named first-team all-state by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association and honorable mention all-state by the LSWA as a senior.

• also earned all-district and all-parish honors as a senior.

• two-time district MVP as a sophomore and as a junior.

• collected all-district, all-city (Shreveport Times), all-parish (Bossier Press-Tribune), LBCA All-Region and LBCA All-State (first team) honors as a junior as the Tigers captured the state championship.

• honorable mention all-state pick as a sophomore also picked up all-city, all-parish and

Stolen Bases: N/A

Walks: 2, 5x (last at New Orleans, March 27, 2022)

Home Runs: N/A

Hayden KNOTTS

Infielder

6-1 • 188 • R-Freshman • R/R Bossier City, La. • Parkway HS

23

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2022 Season:

• Did not see action, redshirted.

High School:

• Four-year starter for coach David George’s Panthers.

• named second-team all-district as a senior.

• earned all-district, all-city and all-state honors as a sophomore when he also was named Class 5A Regional Pitcher of the Year, helping Parkway post a 31-6 record.

• honorable mention all-district pick as a freshman as Parkway went 26-10.

• graduated with a 3.86 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born April 14, 2003.

• son of Brandi and Steven Knotts.

• has one brother, Holden.

• majoring in business administration and holds a 3.7 GPA.

• plans to become an accountant.

• life’s ambition is to graduate, find a good job and have a healthy family.

36 Mason LANGDON

Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder

6-0 • 192 • R-Freshman • R/L

Shreveport, La. • C.E. Byrd HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Did not see action, redshirted.

High School:

• Four-year letterman for coach Greg Williams’ Yellow Jackets.

• named to the LBCA All-State Team as a utility player as a senior as Byrd reached the state championship game.

• batted .459 with three home runs and an .803 slugging percentage as a senior to earn first-team All-City honors from the Shreveport Times.

• also played football for coach Mike Suggs.

• graduated with a 3.93 grade point average, ranking in the top 10 percent of his class.

• named a Top Jacket and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Personal:

• Born May 5, 2003.

• son of Tiffanie and Lee Langdon.

• majoring in health and human performance/pre-physical therapy

• plans to become a physical therapist.

• life’s ambition is “to spread the gospel to as many people as possible.”

48 Reese LIPOMA

Outfielder 5-10 • 175

• R-Sophomore • R/R

Gonzales, La. • St. Amant HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll

Summer 2022:

• Played for the North Platte Plainsmen of the Independence League.

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 10 games, starting three, as a redshirt freshman.

• scored his first career run in a March 12 win against Alcorn.

• went 1-for-3 with his first career hit in a March 6 loss to UT Arlington.

• made his Demon debut, starting in left field against Nebraska on March 5.

2021 Season:

• Did not see game action, redshirted.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coaches Troy Templet and Brandon Bravata’s Gators.

• named to the Composite Academic All-State Team as a senior.

• first-team all-district utility player as a junior as the Gators reached the second round of the state playoffs.

• played two seasons of basketball for coach Travis Uzee.

• graduated with a 4.67 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born May 9, 2002.

• son of Michelle and Jason Lipoma.

• has one brother, Zachary.

• majoring in biology and minoring in psychology and holds a 4.0 grade point average.

• wants to attend PA school and become a physician’s assistant.

• life’s ambition is “to be happy and be the best person I can be.”

16 Alex MAKAREWICH

Right-Handed PItcher

6-0 • 185 • Junior • R/R Keller, Texas • Keller HS

2023 No. 16 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Southland Conference All-Academic First Team

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll 2022 Season:

• Made 16 appearances out of the Demon bullpen, tied for the third most on the team.

• his 33 strikeouts in relief were second among Demon relievers and his 13.7 K/9 led the team.

• struck out four in 1 2-3 dominant innings at McNeese on May 8.

• spun a perfect seventh inning at Louisiana Tech on April 20.

• worked 6 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings across five appearances from Feb. 27-March 23.

• struck out at least two in his first six appearances of the season, including four in a Feb. 20 win against Stephen F. Austin.

• struck out two in a clean seventh inning against Grambling on March 23.

• worked two scoreless innings in a March 2 loss at UL Lafayette.

2021 Season:

• Made 15 relief appearances in his first collegiate season.

• struck out 39 batters, second most among Demon relievers.

• struck out a pair on a scoreless ninth inning against Nicholls in the series finale to earn his second save of the season.

• tossed 3 2-3 shutout innings of relief in an April 11 loss to Lamar.

• earned his first career save, working two scoreless innings and striking out four against Incarnate Word on March 12.

• combined with Cal Carver on a three-hit shutout of Austin Peay, tossing two scoreless innings on March 6.

• tossed a career-long 4 2-3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four against Tarleton on Feb. 26.

• made his NSU debut, earning the win against Southern Miss (Game 2) on Feb. 21, striking out four and allowing a run.

High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach Rob Stramp’s Indians.

• worked nine innings, striking out 17 and allowing one run in two starts of his pandemic-shortened senior year.

• team went 43-20-1 in his first two years, reaching the fourth round of the state playoffs his sophomore season.

• graduated with a 3.98 grade point average and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Environmental Club and the Society of Young Gentlemen.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 17, 2002.

• son of Lourdes Ramboa and Patrick Makarewich.

• has one younger brother, Zach.

• majoring in industrial engineering technology and has a 3.92 grade point average.

• plans to become an industrial engineer.

• life’s ambition is to “make myself and the people around me proud of not only my accomplishments but the person that I become.”

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 4.2, vs. Tarleton, Feb. 26, 2021

Strikeouts: 5, vs. South Alabama, March 26, 2021

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 3, 2x (last at UT Arlington, March 6, 2022)

Hits: 1, 2x (last at LSU, May 17, 2022)

Runs Scored: N/A

RBI: 1, at LSU, May 17, 2022

Stolen Bases: N/A

Walks: 1, vs. Alcorn G1, March 12, 2022

Home Runs: N/A

Northwestern State Demon Baseball

Jardy MONTGOMERY

Outfielder

6-2 • 180 • R-Freshman • S/R

New Orleans, La. • St. Augustine HS

20

Summer 2022:

• Played for the Pelletier A’s in the Delgado All-American League.

2022 Season:

• Did not see action, redshirted.

High School:

• Lettered in baseball and track and field for the Purple Knights.

• part of two state championship relay teams in the 4x200.

• graduated with a 3.7 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born April 15, 2003.

• son of Nia and Hardy Montgomery.

• has one brother, Jarid, and one sister, Jayla.

• majoring in psychology.

• plans to become a child welfare specialist for Child Protective Services in New Orleans.

• life’s ambition is to be successful.

39 Tim O’CONNOR

Left-Handed Pitcher

6-1 • 210 • Junior • R/L

Worcester, Mass. • Worcester Academy (Murray St. Coll.)

37 Caleb PERRY

Right-Handed Pitcher

6-4 • 205 • Freshman • R/R

Waxahachie, Texas • Waxahachie HS

High School:

• Played for coach Jim Miller’s Indians.

• named to the Ellis County High School Sports Awards Baseball Team as a senior.

Personal:

• Born Aug. 7, 2003.

• son of Amy and Jacob Perry.

• majoring in business administration.

• plans to continue playing baseball, coach or enter the real estate world.

• life’s ambition is to have a professional baseball career.

Chase PRESTWICH

Right-Handed Pitcher

5-11 • 200 • Sophomore • R/R

Frederick, Colorado • Frederick HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 16 games, starting one, as a true freshman.

• tossed two scoreless innings at Louisiana Tech on April 20.

• set career highs in innings pitched (4.0) and strikeouts (4) in a scoreless outing at Incarnate Word on April 8.

• spun three straight scoreless appearances, covering four innings, from March 12-19.

Summer 2022:

• Played for the Quincy Gems of the Prospect League.

Prior to NSU:

• Played two seasons at Murray State College.

• helped the Aggies reach the NJCAA Division II World Series.

• struck out 71 batters in 60 career innings.

• named an NJCAA Academic All-American as a sophomore.

• graduated with a 3.6 GPA.

High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach Jim McNamara’s Hilltoppers.

• two-way player batted .380 with six doubles and a home run as a senior while going 5-0 on the mound with a 1.33 ERA, earning all-league honors.

• helped Worcester go 16-5 and earn a top-10 ranking in New England as a senior.

Personal:

• Born July 3, 2000.

• son of Jennifer and Tim O’Connor.

• majoring in general studies.

• plans to become a coach.

• life’s ambition is to spread the gospel to young people through coaching.

• struck out a career-high three against Alcorn on March 12.

• allowed one run in two innings of his NSU debut on Feb. 19 against Stephen F. Austin. High School:

• Three-year letterman for coaches Ray Garza and Collin York.

• was selected to the Future Stars National Combine.

• earned first-team all-conference and first-team Boulder County All-Region honors as a senior, striking out 65 hitters in 34 innings and pitching to a 2.04 ERA.

• junior season was wiped out by COVID-19.

• earned first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and a freshman.

• honorable mention Academic All-State as a senior and graduated with a 3.3 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born July 27, 2003.

• son of Dian and Spencer Prestwich. Dian is a professor at the University of Kansas.

• brother Evan is a search and rescue swimmer in the Navy.

• has a sister, Emma.

• majoring in health and exercise science.

• wants to find employment in his field of study while remaining involved with baseball.

• life’s ambition is to “own a home while living a happy, healthy life with an awesome family.”

Game Highs:

Innings Pitched: 4.0, at Incarnate Word, April 8, 2022

Strikeouts: 4, at Incarnate Word, April 8, 2022

Prior to NSU:

43 Will REED

Right-Handed Pitcher

6-0 • 175 • Junior • R/R Prairieville, La. • Dutchtown HS (Delgado CC)

• Pitched two seasons at Delgado Community College.

• helped the Dolphins reach consecutive super regionals.

• started the super regional title game as a sophomore.

• went 1-1 with two saves and was part of two shutouts as a sophomore.

• went 1-1 in six appearances as a freshman.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coach Chris Schexnayder’s Dutchtown Griffins.

• earned all-district, all-parish and all-metro honors as a senior.

• all-district and all-metro pick as a utility player in his junior year.

• helped Dutchtown reach the state quarterfinals as a junior.

Personal:

• Born Dec. 22, 2000.

• son of Danae and John Reed.

• has two sisters, Hannah and Sarah.

• majoring in general studies.

• wants to have a career in medical sales.

• life’s ambition is to lead as an example, present others with opportunities and be a good family man.

32 Gray ROWLETT

First Baseman

• has two brothers, Landon, who played football at Oklahoma Baptist, and Cole, who owns his own business.

• general studies major has a 3.4 GPA.

• wants to continue to play baseball or become a coach.

• life’s ambition is to be the best person he can and to help others.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 5, 5x (last vs. New Orleans, May 13, 2022)

Hits: 3, 3x (last at McNeese, May 6, 2022)

Runs Scored: 4, vs. Lamar, March 15, 2022

RBI: 4, 2x (last vs. Lamar, March 15, 2022)

Stolen Bases: 1, at ULM, March 9, 2022

Walks: 2, 5x (last vs. Southeastern, April 30, 2022)

9 Bailyn SORENSEN

Catcher/Infielder

6-2 • 210 • Sophomore • R/R

Rayville, La. • Riverfield Academy

2023 No. 2 Southland Conference 2024 MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com) 2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll 2022 No. 7 Southland Conference Impact Freshman (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Season:

• Appeared in 25 games, starting 19, as a true freshman.

• had a game-tying RBI single in the Demons’ April 26 win at Grambling.

• blasted his first career home run, a solo shot in the ninth inning, at Lamar on April 6.

• tied a career high with three RBIs and collected his first career multi-hit game, going 2-for-4, in an April 3 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

• drove in a career-high three runs in a March 12 Game 2 win against Alcorn.

6-5

215

Sophomore • R/R Keller, Texas • Keller HS

2023 No. 4 Southland Conference 2024 MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Season:

• Demons’ primary first baseman appeared in 46 games with 44 starts as a true freshman.

• tied a career high with three hits, driving in two runs, in a May 6 win at McNeese.

• was part of back-to-back home runs in back-to-back games — with Jeffrey Elkins at Grambling on April 26 and with Daunte Stuart against Southeastern on April 29.

• had the game-winning RBI fielder’s choice to walk off Houston Baptist on April 22.

• went 7-for-12 in a three-game stretch from April 16-22, posting multiple hits in all three games while driving in four runs.

• made his first start after 10 games in the April 9 series finale at Incarnate Word.

• recorded a career-high four hits, including his first home run, and drove in four runs in a March 15 win against Lamar.

• drove in three runs in a March 13 win against Alcorn, part of a seven-RBI series against the Braves.

• started the first 20 games of the season at first base.

• went 2-for-4 with a double and his first career RBI in a Feb. 19 win against Stephen F. Austin.

High School:

• Two-year letterman at Keller High School for coaches Rob Stramp and Jarret Stafford.

• District 4-6A MVP earned first-team all-area honors from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and second-team all-area honors from The Dallas Morning News after Keller went 36-8 and finished as the Class 6A runner up.

• ranked among the top 10 first basemen in Texas.

• produced at a top-200 level among Texas 6A players in hits, doubles, triples, home runs and runs.

• graduated with a 3.5 grade point average and received the Letter K and Gold Star Student award.

Personal:

• Born Dec. 10, 2002.

• son of Marilyn and Brannon Rowlett.

• mom was captain of the NSU pom line and dad was an NSU football player (1988-92).

• grandfather Ed Dranguet played baseball at NSU from 1956-59.

• went 1-for-4 with an RBI in his NSU debut, starting at catcher in the Feb. 18 season opener against Stephen F. Austin.

High School:

• Four-year baseball letterman helped Riverfield capture a state baseball championship as a senior.

• named first-team all-district, all-state, All-MAIS and was the district MVP and a MAIS All-Star as a senior.

• first-team all-district pick as a junior and was a second-team honoree as a sophomore.

• helped Riverfield post a 57-9 baseball record in his final three seasons.

• four-year football letterman for coaches Kyle Stracner and Jerry Ginn.

• helped lead Riverfield to back-to-back state championships as a junior and senior.

• named MAIS All-Star, first-team All-MAIS, all-state and all-district as a senior and earned Defensive MVP honors.

• district MVP and defensive MVP as a junior when he also was named first-team All-MAIS, all-state and all-district.

• first-team all-district football selection as a sophomore and was a second-team honoree as a freshman.

• member of the Beta Club and graduated with a 3.3 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born Jan. 22, 2003.

• son of Misty and Brandon Sorensen.

• has two sisters, Madelyn Sorensen and Macy Kennedy.

• majoring in business administration and has a 3.68 GPA.

• plans to pursue a professional baseball career.

• life’s ambition is to make the most of his life because you only live once.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 4, 6x (last at Lamar, April 6, 2022)

Hits: 2, vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, April 2, 2022

Runs Scored: 2, 2x (last vs. New Orleans, May 13, 2022)

RBI: 3, 2x (last vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, April 2, 2022)

Stolen Bases: N/A

Walks: 2, vs. New Orleans, May 13, 2022

Home Runs: 1, at Lamar, April 6, 2022

Northwestern State Demon Baseball

42 Thomas SOTILE

Right-Handed Pitcher

6-3 • 190 • R-Sophomore • L/R

Baton Rouge, La. • University Lab HS

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Missed the season with an injury and redshirted.

2021 Season:

• Made his NSU debut at Southern Miss on Feb. 22, his lone appearance of the season.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coach Justin Morgan’s Cubs.

• graduated with a 3.5 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born Dec. 31.

• son of Courtney and Vincent Sotile Jr.

• has two older sisters, Anna Claire and Virginia, and three younger brothers, Matthew, Trey and Luke.

• majoring in business with a concentration in finance and holds a 3.5 GPA.

• life’s ambition is to play Major League Baseball.

Daunte STUART

Infielder

5-11 • 180 • Junior • R/R

The Woodlands, Texas • The Woodlands HS

2023 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List

2023 No. 8 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2023 Second-Team Preseason All-Southland Conference 2B

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Academic All-Southland Conference Second Team

2022 Third-Team All-Southland Conference 2B

2022 No. 3 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (Baseball America)

2022 No. 5 Southland Conference MLB Draft Prospect (D1Baseball.com)

2022 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List

2022 First-Team Preseason All-Southland Conference

2021 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American

2021 Second-Team All-Southland Conference 2B

2020-21 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll

2020 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Summer 2022:

• Played for the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League, helping the team win the league’s first half championship.

2022 Season:

• Tied a career high by scoring four runs in a May 6 win at McNeese, going 2-for-4 with a pair of hit by pitches and a stolen base.

• drilled a first-inning home run against Southeastern on April 29, part of back-to-back homers with Gray Rowlett.

• put the Demons on the board with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the seventh inning, at Nicholls on April 16.

• went 3-for-4 with a home run and a career-high five RBIs in a Game 2 win against South Dakota State on March 19.

5-11

190

• R-Sophomore • L/R Spring, Texas • Oak Ridge HS (Paris JC)

2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 Season:

• Did not see game action, redshirted.

Prior to NSU:

• Played two seasons at Paris Junior College.

• helped lead the Dragons to their first regional championship in more than two decades.

• graduated with a 3.88 grade point average.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for coaches Mike Pirtle and JJ Pierce’s War Eagles.

• team offensive MVP as a senior, hitting .357 with five home runs to earn honorable mention all-district honors.

• Oak Ridge went 23-11 and won the district title in his senior season.

• graduated with a 3.4 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born March 8, 2000.

• son of Debbie and Jim Starnes.

• has two brothers, Johnathon and Justin, and one sister, Kelly.

• majoring in business administration and holds a 3.7 GPA.

• wants to work as a financial planner.

• life’s ambition is to work for his dad’s financial planning business or become a coach.

• posted a career-high five hits -- NSU’s first five-hit game in nearly three years -- and drove in two in a 21-7 win against Lamar on March 15.

• hit safely in a season-long seven games from March 9-18.

• went 4-for-9 with a double, a home run and four RBIs in a March 12 doubleheader sweep of Alcorn.

• hit safely in the first five games of the season, going 8-for-21 (.381) with four doubles in that span.

2021 Season:

• Appeared in and started the first 52 games of the season before missing the finale with an injury.

• paced NSU’s qualifying hitters in the Triple Crown categories (.270 BA, 7 HR, 30 RBIs) and in total bases (84) and slugging percentage (.454).

• led the team in multi-hit games (12) and tied for the lead in multi-RBI games (8).

• went 2-for-3 and scored twice in a May 15 win against Stephen F. Austin.

• went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two walks in a Game 1 win against McNeese on May 8.

• delivered a go-ahead, three-run double in the eighth inning of a May 7 Game 2 win against McNeese.

• went 2-for-4 with his first career road home run in Game 2 of a May 1 doubleheader at Central Arkansas.

• drilled a pair of home runs — his first career multi-homer game — drove in three runs and scored four times in a Game 2 win against Nicholls on April 24.

• drew five walks -- including four in an April 11 doubleheader -- in a four-game series against Lamar.

• collected his third three-walk game of the season and went 2-for-2 in a March 30 win against LSUA.

• went 1-for-2 with three walks in a March 27 loss to South Alabama.

• hit safely in a career-long 10 straight games from Feb. 22-March 12.

• homered in three straight games from Feb. 27-March 6 and four times in five games from Feb. 27-March 12.

• rapped out three singles and drove in a run in a 6-5 win against Incarnate Word on March 14.

• started the scoring with a solo home run in a 5-4 win against Incarnate Word on March 12, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances.

• went 4-for-8 with two home runs, seven RBIs and seven walks -- three intentional --

#ForkEm

during the Demons’ series against Austin Peay from March 5-7.

• hit his first career home run in Game 2 of a Feb. 27 doubleheader against Tarleton.

• doubled home the Demons’ runs in a 5-2 loss at ULM on Feb. 24.

• had his first multi-hit game of the year, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Game 2 of a Feb. 21 doubleheader at Southern Miss.

2020 Season:

• Started all 16 games at second base as a true freshman.

• finshed third on the team in batting average (.281).

• hit safely in nine straight games from Feb. 16-March 1.

• had three two-hit games in a four-game span from Feb. 22-26, including his first career two-hit game in Game 1 of a Feb. 22 doubleheader sweep of North Alabama.

• scored a career-high three runs in an 8-3 win against North Alabama on Feb. 23.

• went 1-for-2 against Wichita State on Feb. 16, notching his first career hit.

• walked and scored two runs in his collegiate debut, an 11-0 win against Wichita State.

High School:

• Two-year letterman for Ronald Eastman’s Highlanders.

• batted .325 as a senior, helping lead The Woodlands to the regional semifinals.

• named an honorable mention Perfect Game Preseason All-American and to the Preseason All-Houston Area Team prior to his senior year.

• helped push the Highlanders to the state tournament as a junior.

• earned an academic letter and graduated with a 3.55 grade point average.

Personal:

• Born June 6, 2001.

• son of Deseree and Carlton Stuart.

• has one brother, Taveras.

• his cousin, Jazz Chisholm is the Miami Marlins’ second baseman. Also, cousin Samson Colebrooke competed as a sprinter for the Bahamas in the 2020 Summer Olympics, while another cousin, Ray Minus Jr., was a professional boxer who won a number of titles.

• majoring in electronics engineering technology and holds a 3.2 grade point average.

• plans to become an everyday Major League Baseball player.

• life’s ambition is “to become an MLB player, an entrepreneur, give back to the community and have a great family.”

22 Corbin TALLEY

Left-Handed Pitcher

6-4 • 185 • Junior • L/L Jones, Okla. •Jones HS (Butler CC)

Summer 2022:

• Pitched for the Kansas Cannons in Kansas Collegiate League Baseball. Prior to NSU:

• Pitched two seasons at Butler Community College.

• went 5-3 with 58 strikeouts in 57 innings as a sophomore.

• struck out 24 in 24 innings, going 1-0 in 13 appearances as a freshman.

High School:

• Three-year letterman for coach Derek Verner’s Longhorns.

• earned all-state honors as a senior.

• helped Jones win a state title as a sophomore and reach the state quarterfinals as a junior.

• three-year basketball letterman helped Jones reach the playoffs all three seasons.

• member of the National Honor Society and graduated with a 3.79 GPA.

Personal:

• Born April, 22, 2002.

• son of Katie and Will Talley.

• has two sisters, Cami and Carli.

• majoring in psychology.

• life’s ambition is to play baseball as long as he can.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 6, 3x (last vs. Incarnate Word, May 20, 2022)

Hits: 5, vs. Lamar, March 15, 2022

Runs Scored: 4, 2x (last at McNeese, May 6, 2022)

RBI: 5, vs. South Dakota State G2, March 19, 2022

Stolen Bases: 1, 10x (last at McNeese, May 6, 2022)

Walks: 4, vs. Nicholls G2, April 24, 2021

Home Runs: 2, vs. Nicholls G2, April 24, 2021

25 Bo WILLIS

Catcher

6-1 • 210 • Junior • R/R

Magnolia, Texas • Magnolia HS (Weatherford College)

2023 Preseason First-Team All-Southland Conference Catcher

2022 Season:

2022 First-Team All-Southland Conference Catcher

• Appeared in 47 games, starting 46, in his first season at NSU.

• led the Demons with 45 RBIs and ranked second on the team with 11 home runs.

• teamed with Jeffrey Elkins to become the first set of Demon teammates to hit at least 10 home runs in the same season in NSU’s Division I era.

• connected on a three-run, first-inning home run in a May 8 loss at McNeese.

• set a career high with three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs in a May 6 win at McNeese.

• went 2-for-4 with his seventh home run of the season in an April 19 win against LSU-Alexandria.

• homered in consecutive games -- both int the fourth inning -- April 8-9 at Incarnate Word.

• had his second bases-loaded, three-run double of the year in an April 1 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

• drew four walks, tying the school single-game record, and scored three runs in a March 27 series-finale win at New Orleans.

• drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double in a March 25 loss at New Orleans.

• drilled a three-run home run to help clinch the Demons’ March 18 win against South Dakota State.

• homered twice and drove in seven runs -- the most by a Demon since 2019 -- in a March 1 loss to UL Lafayette.

• went 2-for-4 with an RBI in a Feb. 25 win against Oklahoma at Globe Life Field.

• homered in his first Northwestern State at-bat, a solo shot in a Feb. 19 win against Stephen F. Austin.

Prior to NSU:

• Played one season at Weatherford College.

• batted .306 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 25 RBIs in 2021.

• posted a 3.2 grade point average.

High School:

• Two-sport standout for the Bulldogs.

• earned team MVP honors as a senior for coach Taylor Shifflet’s baseball team.

• earned honorable mention all-state, first-team all-county, first-team all-district and firstteam all-decade honors as a sophomore on coach Sterling Doty’s football team.

Personal:

• Born June 13, 2000.

• son of Tammy and Erik Willis.

• has two sisters, Brittyn and Aeriel, and one brother, Haden.

• majoring in psychology.

• plans to play professional baseball or work in sports psychology.

• life’s ambition is to learn from the past and pave a better future for myself and others.

Game Highs:

At-Bats: 6, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1, 2022

Hits: 4, vs. New Orleans, May 14, 2022

Runs Scored: 3, at New Orleans, March 27, 2022

RBI: 7, vs. UL Lafaytte, March 1, 2022

Stolen Bases: N/A

Walks: 4, at New Orleans, March 27, 2022

Home Runs: 2, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1, 2022

AJ Bailey

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Josh Banes

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Drayton Brown

• Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team

• NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List

• Southland Conference All-Academic First Team

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Cal Carver

• Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team

• All-Southland Conference Second Team

Gabe Colaianni

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Andrew Cossio

• D1Baseball.com’s top Southland Conference MLB Draft No. 12 Prospect

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Jeffrey Elkins

• Southland Conferene All-Defensive Team

Jacob Farrell

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Dawson Flowers

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Larson Fontenot

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Kendall Foster

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Ethan Francis

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

2022 HONORS AND AWARDS

Grayson Gates

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Jake Haze

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Will Hine

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Johnathan Harmon

• D1Baseball.com’s top Southland Conference MLB Draft No. 1 Prospect

• Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week

• All-Southland Conference First Team

Bryc3 Holmes

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Broch Holmes

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Cole Horton

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Austin Kirkpatrick

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Hayden Knotts

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Mason Langdon

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Reese Lipoma

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Alex Makarewich

• Southland Conference All-Academic First Team

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Donovan Ohnoutka

• Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team

Ryan Olchoway

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Cameron Parikh

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Chase Prestwich

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Cam Sibley

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Bailyn Sorensen

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Thomas Sotile

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

James Starnes

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Daunte Stuart

• Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team

• D1Baseball.com’s top Southland Conference MLB Draft No. 5

Prospect

• All-Southland Conference Third Team

• Southland Conference All-Academic Second Team

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Cameron Taylor

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Miguel Vega

• Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll

Bo Willis

• 2022 All-Southland Conference First Team

NSU: A COACHES’ PIPELINE TO SEC

Northwestern State baseball has enjoyed a tremendous run of success in the past three decades, molded by head coaches and assistants who have climbed the ladder to the highest levels of college baseball.

Entering the 2023 season, two of the 14 current head coaches in the Southeastern Conference, widely regarded as the toughest conference in college baseball, spent part of their careers on the Demons staff, including Ole Miss’ Mike Bianco who led the Rebels to the 2022 College World Series championship. Additionally, former Demons skipper Jim Wells helped build Alabama into a national power, leading the Crimson Tide to the 1996 College World Series championship game and was succeeded by Mitch Gaspard, who spent time at both Alabama and Georgia. Van Horn led Nebraska to back-to-back CWS appearances in 2001 and 2002 before taking the Arkansas job between the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In two decades in Fayetteville, Van Horn has taken the Hogs to seven CWS berths, including a national runner-up finish in 2018.

Additionally, former Demons skipper John Cohen is in his first year as the Auburn director of athletics, overseeing the department after 12 years as Mississippi State’s baseball coach and later director of athletics, while current Demon head coach Bobby Barbier spent five seasons on Gaspard’s Alabama staffs.

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

2022 Northwestern State Baseball

Overall Statistics for Northwestern State (Final Statistics) (All games Sorted by Batting avg)

(All games Sorted by Earned run avg)

PB - Team (10), Sorensen, B. 7, Willis, B. 2, Kirkpatrick, 1, Opp (8). Pickoffs - Team (11), Harmon, J. 3, Carver, C. 3, Brown, D. 2, Taylor, C. 1, Willis, B. 1, Banes, J. 1, Opp (6). SBA/ATT - Willis, B. (45-53), Sorensen, B. (27-31), Carver, C. (22-29), Kirkpatrick, (19-22), Collins, G. (12-14), Ohnoutka, D. (10-12), Harmon, J. (8-11), Brown, D. (8-10), Banes, J. (6-8), Makarewich, (7-8), Prestwich, C (6-7), Cossio, A. (6-6), Taylor, C. (4-4), Francis, E. (2-2), Flowers, D. (0-1).

#ForkEm

2022 Northwestern State Baseball Overall Statistics for Northwestern State (Final Statistics) (All games Sorted by Fielding pct)

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

2022 Northwestern State Baseball Game Results for Northwestern State (Final Statistics) (All games)

* = Conference game

() extra inning game

Now in its seventh decade of service, the Southland Conference continues to be a model of innovation, stability and consistent achievement as it celebrates the academic and athletic accomplishments of its member institutions and more than 4,200 student-athletes.

The Southland operates within a structure of shared core values by its membership: Excellence, Student-Athlete Focused, Integrity, Diversity and Inclusion, Sportsmanship, and Fiscal Responsibility.

Now in its 59th year, the Southland Conference has transformed itself into a dynamic and respected consortium of eight comprehensive universities in Texas and Louisiana. Beginning with a historic meeting of five original institutions in Dallas on March 15, 1963, the Southland Conference set on an extraordinary course that has proven successful well into the 21st Century.

The members of the Southland Conference are Houston Baptist University, the University of the Incarnate Word, McNeese State University, University of New Orleans, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. All told, the membership of the Southland encompasses over 140,000 current students and an alumni base of nearly 900,000.

Southland cities encompass approximately 14 million people, and its geography covers many of the nation’s top 100 television markets, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge.

League institutions, their locations, and many of their namesakes are significant to the history of the South Central and Southwest regions of the United States.

Southland institutions are annually positioned among the nation’s best public and private universities, exemplified by superb undergraduate and graduate education rankings, and featuring unique and accomplished curriculums at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Member universities are frequently acknowledged for their superior standing in areas such

2023 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

Pos. Name Team Class Hometown

1B Edgar Alvarez Nicholls Jr. Orlando, Fla.

2B Brad Burckel McNeese Sr. Lindale, Texas

3B Josh Leslie McNeese Sr. Kenosha, Wis.

SS Parker Coddou Nicholls Jr. Thibodaux, La.

C Bo Willis Northwestern State Jr. Magnolia, Texas

DH Tre Jones Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Jr. Houston, Texas

OF Payton Harden McNeese Sr. Atascocita, Texas

OF Brendan Ryan Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. Leawood, Kan.

OF Xane Washington Nicholls R-Sr. Houma, La.

SP Zach Garcia Texas A&M-Corpus Christi So. New Branfuels, Texas

SP Grant Rogers McNeese Jr. Groves, Texas

SP Tyler Theriot Nicholls Sr. Brusly, La.

RP Burrell Jones McNeese Sr. Holt, Mich.

Util Alec Carr UIW Sr. Sugar Land, Texas

SECOND TEAM

Pos. Name Team Class Hometown

1B Josh Blankenship Lamar Sr. Santa Fe, Texas

2B Daunte Stuart Northwestern State Jr. The Woodlands, Texas

3B Kasten Furr New Orleans Jr. Ruston, La.

SS Tyler Bischke New Orleans Jr. Pittsburgh, Pa.

C Bryce Grizzaffi Southeastern Sr. Morgan City, La.

DH Kade Hunter McNeese Sr. Comfort, Texas

OF Josh Caraway Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Jr. Roanoke, Texas OF Braden Duhon McNeese Jr. Moss Bluff, La. OF Issac Williams New Orleans Jr. Alexandria, La.

SP Cal Carver Northwestern State Sr. San Antonio, Texas

SP Tyler LeBlanc New Orleans Jr. Lafayette, La.

SP Will Kinzeler Southeastern Jr. Covington, La.

RP Dalton Aspholm Southeastern

as college buy value and return on investment, student engagement, best-in-region status, favorable student-to-faculty ratios, service learning, military-friendly designations, honors programs, online learning, faith-based learning, and access to higher education for all income levels.

Numerous Southland alumni have earned acclaim as business, medical, education and government leaders and innovators, iconic entertainers such as filmmakers, musicians and television/film actors, and athletes that starred at the professional and Olympic levels to earn hall of fame distinction.

Athletically, the Southland Conference sponsors championship play in 18 NCAA Division I sports at the NCAA Division I level. Women’s sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Since 2015, the Conference has also administered the Southland Bowling League, an affiliated women’s sport that has produced NCAA national champions in three of the last four years.

The Conference boasts automatic qualification in all NCAA team sports, and league members have taken advantage of this access with recent wins in NCAA baseball, softball, football, and basketball championships. Additionally, Southland teams have won numerous contests in other national postseason events.

The Southland has also taken a lead role in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision by serving as the host conference for the annual DI national championship game in the league office’s base of Frisco, Texas, since 2011.

Working with its partners, the City of Frisco and Hunt Sports Ventures, the Southland’s hosting role has been reaffirmed three times since the initial game, that will remain at Frisco’s Toyota Stadium at least through the 2025 game.

2023 SLC P reseason Poll

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

2023 opponents

South Alabama Jaguars

Feb. 17 (Mobile, Alabama)

Location: Mobile, Alabama

Colors: Blue, Red and White

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: USAJaguars.com

Head Coach: Mark Calvi

Record at School: 344-256 (12th season)

Career Record: 344-256 (12th season)

2022 Record: 31-23

SID: Charlie Nichols

Email: charlesnichols@southalabama.edu

UAB Blazers

Feb. 18 (Mobile, Alabama)

Location: Birmingham, Alabama

Colors: Forest Green and Old Gold

Conference: C-USA

Website: UABSports.com

Head Coach: Casey Dunn

Record at School: 31-25 (2nd season)

Career Record: 440-447 (20th season)

2021 Record: 31-25

SID: Anna Nobles

Email: agn2@uab.edu

Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Feb. 19 (Mobile, Alabama)

Location: Richmond, Kentucky

Colors: Maroon and White

Conference: ASUN

Website: EKUSports.com

Head Coach: Chris Prothro

Record at School: 59-52 (3rd season)

Career Record: 59-52 (3rd season)

2022 Record: 38-20

SID: Kevin Britton

Email: kevin.britton@eku.edu

LSU-Alexandria Generals

Feb. 21, March 21 (Natchitoches)

Location: Alexandria

Colors: Purple and Gold

Conference: Red River Athletic

Website: LSUAGenerals.com

Head Coach: Kody Gautreaux

Record at School: 33-16 (2nd season)

Career Record: 33-16 (2nd season)

2022 Record: 33-16

SID: Chelsea Theriot

Email: ctheriot@lsua.edu

Seton Hall Pirates

Feb. 24 (Sugar Land, Texas)

Location: South Orange, New Jersey

Colors: Blue and White

Conference: Big East

Website: SHUPirates.com

Head Coach: Rob Sheppard

Record at School: 489-474-3 (20th season)

Career Record: 489-474-3 (20th season)

2022 Record: 18-25

SID: Peter Long

Email: peter.long@shu.edu

New Mexico State Aggies

Feb. 25 (Sugar Land, Texas)

Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Colors: Crimson and White

Conference: WAC

Website: NMStateSports.com

Head Coach: Mike Kirby

Record at School: 56-72 (4th season)

Career Record: 56-72 (4th season)

2021 Record: 24-34

SID: Jon Opiela

Email: jopiela@nmsu.edu

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

Feb. 26 (Sugar Land, Texas); Feb. 28 (Natchitoches); April 11 (Nacogdoches)

Location: Nacogdoches, Texas

Colors: Purple and White

Conference: WAC

Website: SFAJacks.com

Head Coach: Johnny Cardenas

Record at School: 327-410 (15th season)

Career Record: 327-410 (15th season)

2022 Record: 15-36

SID: Amanda Paver

Email: amanda.paver@sfasu.edu

UT Arlington Mavericks

March 3-5 (Natchitoches)

Location: Arlington, Texas

Colors: Blue and Orange

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: UTAMavs.com

Head Coach: Clay Van Hook

Record at School: 0-0 (1st season)

Career Record: 0-0 (1st season)

2022 Record: 15-39

SID: Todd Cruff

Email: todd.cruff@uta.edu

ULM Warhawks

March 8 (Monroe); March 14 (Natchitoches)

Location: Monroe

Colors: Maroon and Gold

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: ULMWarhawks.com

Head Coach: Michael Federico

Record at School: 108-128-1 (6th season)

Career Record: 108-128-1 (6th season)

2022 Record: 20-35-1

SID: Mike Hammett

Email: mhammett@ulm.edu

Alabama A&M Bulldogs

March 10-12 (Natchitoches)

Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Colors: Maroon and White

Conference: SWAC

Website: AAMUSports.com

Head Coach: Elliott Jones

Record at School: 23-55 (3rd season)

Career Record: 23-55 (3rd season)

2022 Record: 14-35

SID: TBA

Email: TBA

Little Rock Trojans

March 17-19 (Natchitoches)

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

Colors: Maroon and Silver

Conference: Ohio Valley

Website: LRTrojans.com

Head Coach: Chris Curry

Record at School: 174-216 (9th season)

Career Record: 174-216 (9th season)

2022 Record: 24-27

SID: Austin Smith

Email: asmith1@ualr.edu

Oregon Ducks

March 24-26 (Eugene, Oregon)

Location: Eugene, Oregon

Colors: Green and Yellow

Conference: Pac-12

Website: GoDucks.com

Head Coach: Mark Wasikowski

Oregon Record: 84-49 (4th season)

Career Record: 171-131 (7th season)

2022 Record: 36-25

SID: Todd Miles

Email: miles@uoregon.edu

2023 opponents

New Orleans Privateers

March 31-April 2 (New Orleans)

Location: New Orleans

Colors: Blue, Silver and White

Conference: Southland

Website: UNOPrivateers.com

Head Coach: Blake Dean

Record at School: 160-142-1 (7th season)

Career Record: 160-142-1 (7th season)

2022 Record: 30-23

SID: Emmanuel Pepis

Email: epepis@uno.edu

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

April 4 (Natchitoches); May 2 (Ruston)

Location: Ruston

Colors: Blue and Red

Conference: Conference USA

Website: LaTechSports.com

Head Coach: Lane Burroughs

Record at School: 206-112 (7th season)

Career Record: 319-225 (11th season)

2022 Record: 43-21

SID: Kelsey Chanler

Email: kchanler@latech.edu

Lamar Cardinals

April 6-8 (Natchitoches)

Location: Beaumont, Texas

Colors: Red and White

Conference: Southland

Website: LamarCardinals.com

Head Coach: Will Davis

Record at School: 139-151 (6th season)

Career Record: 139-151 (6th season)

2022 Record: 37-21

SID: James Dixon

Email: james.dixon@lamar.edu

Houston Christian Huskies

April 14-16 (Houston)

Location: Houston

Colors: Blue and Orange

Conference: Southland

Website: HCUHuskies.com

Head Coach: Lance Berkman

Record at School: 18-36 (2nd season)

Career Record: 18-36 (2nd season)

2022 Record: 18-36

SID: Andrew Hoffman

Email: hoffmanac@hbu.edu

UIW Cardinals

April 21-23 (Natchitoches)

Location: San Antonio

Colors: Red, Black and White

Conference: Southland

Website: UIWCardinals.com

Head Coach: Ryan Shotzberger

Record at School: 51-66 (4th season)

Career Record: 51-66 (4th season)

2022 Record: 21-31

SID: Alexa Low

Email: alow@uiwtx.edu

UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

April 26 (Lafayette)

Location: Lafayette

Colors: Vermilion and White

Conference: Sun Belt

Website: RaginCajuns.com

Head Coach: Matt Deggs

Record at School: 77-55 (4th season)

Career Record: 264-173 (9th season)

2022 Record: 37-23

SID: Matt Sullivan

Email: matt.sullivan@louisiana.edu

Nicholls Colonels

April 28-30 (Natchitoches)

Location: Thibodaux

Colors: Red and Gray

Conference: Southland

Website: GeauxColonels.com

Head Coach: Mike Silva

Record at School: 26-25 (2nd season)

Career Record: 26-25 (2nd season)

2022 Record: 26-25

SID: Jamie Bustos

Email: jamie.bustos@mcneese.edu

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders

May 5-7 (Corpus Christi, Texas)

Location: Corpus Christi, Texas

Colors: Blue and Green

Conference: Southland

Website: GoIslanders.com

Head Coach: Scott Malone

Record at School: 383-434-2 (16th season)

Career Record: 383-434-2 (16th season)

2022 Record: 27-28

SID: Taylor Riemersma

Email: taylor.riemersma@tamucc.edu

LSU Tigers

May 9 (Baton Rouge)

Location: Baton Rouge

Colors: Purple and Gold

Conference: Southeastern

Website: LSUSports.net

Head Coach: Jay Johnson

Record at School: 40-22 (2nd season)

Career Record: 356-194 (11th season)

2022 Record: 40-22

SID: Bill Franques

Email: wfranqu@lsu.edu

McNeese Cowboys

May 12-14 (Natchitoches)

Location: Lake Charles

Colors: Blue and Gold

Conference: Southland

Website: McNeeseSports.com

Head Coach: Justin Hill

Record at School: 267-213 (10th season)

Career Record: 267-213 (10th season)

2022 Record: 34-23

SID: Matthew Bonnette

Email: wbonnette@mcneese.edu

Southeastern Lions

May 18-20 (Hammond)

Location: Hammond

Colors: Green and Gold

Conference: Southland

Website: LionSports.net

Head Coach: Matt Riser

Record at School: 295-199 (10th season)

Career Record: 295-199 (10th season)

2022 Record: 30-31

SID: Damon Sunde

Email: damon.sunde@southeastern.edu

Southland Conference Tournament

May 24-27

Location: Lake Charles

Stadium: Joe Miller Ballpark

Teams: Eight

Format: Double elimination

Website: SouthlandSports.org

Defending Champion: Southeastern

BROWN-STROUD Field

HOME OF THE NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS

BUILT IN 1939...

Named for the first two head baseball coaches in school history -- C.C. Stroud (1912-30) and H. Alvin “Cracker” Brown (1949-66) -Brown-Stroud Field has been the home to nine Southland Conference championship teams. The facility has undergone significant changes in the past three seasons, culminating with the addition of two suites, a reconfigured press box and additional chairback seating for the 2019 season. Along with a grandstand that seats 1,200, there is hillside seating along both baselines, giving fans some of the best sightlines in the Southland Conference. Fitting for a program that relishes high-level competition, Brown-Stroud Field has hosted College World Series programs LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, TCU, UL Lafayette, Nebraska and Missouri State as well as Missouri, Houston, Kansas State, Oral Roberts. Brown-Stroud also was home to Brian Lawrence, who pitched for the Demons in the 1997 and 98 seasons before anchoring the San Diego Padres starting rotation in the early-to-mid-2000s

Cracker Brown (second from right) is one of the stadium namesakes for Brown-Stroud Field. He is standing with three other namesakes (L-R) Walter P. Ledet (track complex), Harry Turpin (football stadium), H. Lee Prather (basketball coliseum)

BROWN-STROUD ATTENDANCE RECORDS

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

NORTHWESTERN STATE BASEBALL:

All-Americans. Conference championships. NCAA Regional appearances.

All of the above have been part of the tradition that is Northwestern State baseball, a program that has made its share of headlines and memories in the last eight decades.

NSU’s baseball tradition dates to 1912, when the first incarnation of the Louisiana Normal nine won 7 of its 11 games. With the exception of a 18-year gap from 19301948, the diamond Demons have written a legacy of success for the better part of a century.

Individual accomplishments have blended into team success, creating a program that has enjoyed a run as one of the best in the Southland Conference in the last three decades.

Numerous All-Americans have donned the Purple and White, beginning with Danny Turner in 1967 when the Demons competed at the NAIA level. Darryl Woods bridged the gap between the NCAA and NAIA eras, earning All-American honors after belting a school-record 19 home runs.

Outfielder Terry Joseph was a two-time Academic All-American (1993, 1995) and ranks 9th in career batting average. Pitcher Reggie Gatewood was named a second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 1994 after posting an 11-3 record and a 2.14 ERA. Shortstop Ryan Anholt earned third-team All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1998 when he batted .417 with 15 home runs and 71 RBIs in his junior season.

In recent years, pitcher Adam Oller (2016 ABCA, Collegiate Baseball), first baseman/catcher David Fry (2018 Collegiate Baseball) and pitcher Logan Hofmann (Collegiate Baseball) have added to the Demons’ All-American legacy. Four Demons pitchers have earned Freshman All-American honors – Kyle Broughton and Dereck Cloeren in 2005, Oller in 2014 and Johnathan Harmon in 2020.

One of the most decorated runs in NSU baseball history began with its entrance into the Southland Conference, a league the Demons have called home for the past 32 seasons.

In that time, the Demons have accumulated 53 first-team All-Southland Conference selections, eight Coach of the Year awards, five Pitcher of the Year honors, five Player of the Year nods, two Hitter of the Year awardees, nine Newcomer or Freshman of the Year winners and one Relief Pitcher of the Year.

As a team, the Demons have captured 10 conference championships. Included in that grouping is a run of three straight SLC titles (1993-95) that has been accomplished by just two other Southland schoold.

In 1991, coach Jim Wells’ Demons earned the first NCAA Regional berth in school history and were placed in the NCAA South II Regional in Baton Rouge. The Demons fell to eventual national champion LSU, 11-2, and were edged by UL Lafayette, 11-7.

Three years later, Wells’ Demons earned another at-large bid and were placed in the Midwest I Regional in Stillwater, Okla. After dropping the opener to perennial national power Cal State Fullerton, 11-3, NSU earned its first NCAA Regional victory, as Gatewood overpowered Illinois State, 8-2. NSU fell to Memphis, 14-9, ending its season with a school-record 45 victories.

Wells’ success led him to become the head coach at Alabama, ushering in a flood of NSU coaches who took control of Southeastern Conference programs. Currently, former NSU coaches are head coaches at Arkansas (Dave Van Horn), Mississippi State (John Cohen), Ole Miss (Mike Bianco) and Texas A&M (Rob Childress).

The Demons’ decade of dominance continued in 1996 with two wins at eventual national champion LSU. Two years later, NSU notched its sixth Southland title and fourth 40-win season of the 1990s.

NSU closed the decade with a 38-21 campaign in 1999. Included in that season were wins against LSU and UCLA. The Demons closed the decade with a .658 winning percentage, which ranked 23rd in the nation.

The 2000s brought continued success with a seventh Southland title in 2001. That season, NSU defeated LSU, 10-8, in front of a record crowd of 4,214 screaming Demons fans at Brown-Stroud Field. NSU repeated as Southland champions in 2002, winning 43 games in Gaspard’s first season. The Demons cracked the national top 25 for the first

time in school history, reaching No. 23 in the Collegiate Baseball poll.

NSU’s 2005 season was simply overpowering, as the Demons racked up 22 Southland wins and won the conference by five games, the largest margin in Southland history. NSU earned the third NCAA Regional trip in school history, traveling to Baton Rouge where it fell to nationally ranked Rice, 7-3, in its opening game before recovering to beat Marist, 4-3. NSU fell to state rival LSU, 12-4, in its next regional game.

In 2010, NSU tied its school record for conference wins with 22 and added victories against nationally ranked Southern Mississippi and Texas A&M. Four Demons earned first-team All-Southland Conference honors and the conference named Chad Sheppard its Relief Pitcher of the Year.

The next three seasons were uncharacteristically trying for the Demons, who nevertheless had three players drafted in 2012, including second-round pick Mason Melotakis (Minnesota).

The hiring of Lane Burroughs, a Mississippi State assistant under Cohen, signaled a return to form for the Demons program. After going 16-40 in his first season, Burroughs engineered a remarkable turnaround, winning 17 more games in his second season. NSU also authored the largest single-season turnaround in Southland Conference history, increasing its conference win total from 5 to 19.

The follow-up season included another improvement as NSU bumped its winning

Head coach Jim Wells was a pivotal figure in Demon baseball history, helping turn the team into a perennial Southland Conference title contender in the early 1990s.

A HIT SINCE 1912

percentage from .559 to .574 and saw outfielder Cort Brinson earn Southland Conference Hitter and Student-Athlete of the Year honors.

In 2016, Oller was one of three Demons drafted (Nick Heath, Daniel Garner) from an NSU team that won its final 10 Southland Conference games of the year, setting a school record for consecutive conference victories, one that remains active entering the 2017 season.

Former NSU Academic All-American Bobby Barbier took the reins of his alma mater’s program prior to 2017 and began putting his stamp on the program. A tough 2017 season as a team had its highlights, including Fry’s ABCA First-Team All-South Central Region selection.

A year later, Barbier’s charges did what no other Demons team ever accomplished — winning the Southland Conference Tournament championship. NSU swept the event in four straight games behind an MVP performance from Fry and advanced to the Corvallis Regional where it went 1-2, notching the program’s first NCAA Regional shutout, a 9-0 blanking of San Diego State.

Fry was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and All-Louisiana Hitter of the Year while pitcher Jerry Maddox earned Southland and All-Louisiana Newcomer of the Year honors. Barbier picked up Southland and All-Louisiana Coach of the Year acclaim as well as the ABCA Central Region Coach of the Year award. In June, Fry (7th round, Milwaukee) and outfielder Kwan Adkins (30th round, San Francisco) became Major League Baseball draftees.

The 2018 Demons won 18 more games than the 2017 team, marking the largest single-season jump in program history.

Barbier continued to burnish Northwestern State’s player development reputation, producing two more draft picks — right-handed pitcher Nathan Jones (5th round, New York Mets) and shortstop Caleb Ricca (23rd round, Seattle) — in 2019.

Even in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Barbier’s Demons made school history.

Hofmann went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 28 innings, earning second-team All-American honors before being drafted in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hofmann was part of a trio of Demon pitchers who earned All-America honors, marking a first for the program.

Right-hander Johnathan Harmon was a Freshman All-American selection by Collegiate Baseball magazine while closer Kyle Swanson earned Third-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, giving the Demons their first single-season All-American trifecta in program history.

In 2021, the Demons continued their draft success as right-hander Levi David was selected by the New York Mets in the ninth round. Second baseman Daunte Stuart extended the Demons’ Freshman All-American streak to two, earning honors from Collegiate Baseball magazine.

Following the 2022 season, the Demons produced the Southland Conference’s first draft pick for the fourth time in five seasons as the Cincinnati Reds nabbed right-handed pitcher Johnathan Harmon in the 13th round of the annual MLB FirstYear Player Draft.

ALL-TIME DEMON COACHING RECORDS

NSU ALL-TIME BASEBALL RESULTS

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

1957 GULF STATES CONFERENCE CHAMPION

1967 GULF STATES CONFERENCE CHAMPION

1967

NCAA Regional at Jonesboro, Ark.

Southeast Missouri L 4-3

North Dakota L 4-3

Won 0, Lost 2

1974

NAIA District 30 Champ. at Natchitoches, La.

Southern University W 9-7

Southern University W 7-2

Won 2, Lost 0 - NAIA DISTRICT 30 CHAMPIONS

NAIA Area II Regional at Phoenix, Ariz.

Sam Houston L 4-2

Lubbock Christian L 9-0

Won 0, Lost 2

1991

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

NCAA South II Regional at Baton Rouge, La.

LSU L 13-2

USL L 11-7

Won 0, Lost 2

1993

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

SLC Tournament, Natchitoches, La.

McNeese State L 4-2

Texas-Arlington L 12-6

Won 0, Lost 2

1994

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

SLC Tournament, Natchitoches, La.

McNeese State L 8-3

Sam Houston W 7-4

McNeese State W 6-3

Texas-San Antonio L 7-6

Won 2, Lost 2

Midwest I Regional at Stillwater, Okla.

Cal State Fullerton L 11-3

Illinois State W 8-2

1995

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

1995 SLC Tournament, Shreveport, La. Texas-Arlington L 11-3 McNeese State L 7-3 Won 0, Lost 2

1996

Shreveport, La.

Sam Houston (10 innings) L 8-7

Won 3, Lost 2

AND POSTSEASON PLAY

1999

SLC Tournament, Monroe, La.

Texas-Arlington L 11-8

Southeastern Louisiana W 13-11

Southwest Texas L 8-4

Won 1, Lost 2

2000

SLC Tournament, Monroe, La.

McNeese State W 6-4

Southwest Texas L 5-1

Sam Houston W

2001

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS SLC Tournament, Beaumont, Texas

2002

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS SLC Tournament, Beaumont, Texas

SLC

Monroe, La.

1997

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

SLC Tournament, Monroe, La.

Texas-San Antonio L 5-3

Southwest Texas L 12-3

Won 0, Lost 2

2009

SLC Tournament, Corpus Christi, Texas

No. 3 UTSA L 5-4

No. 2 SLU L 9-7

Won 0, Lost 2

2010

SLC Tournament, Corpus Christi, Texas

No. 7 Lamar L 4-3

No. 3 SLU L 10-4

Won 0, Lost 2

2014

SLC Tournament, Conway, Ark.

No. 5 Southeastern Louisiana L 5-3

No. 8 Lamar W 10-8

No. 1 Sam Houston State W 4-1

No. 5 Southeastern Louisiana L 7-3

Won 2, Lost 2

2015

SLC Tournament, Sugar Land, Texas

No. 7 Houston Baptist L 4-1

No. 3 Nicholls W 4-3

No. 6 Central Arkansas L 5-4

Won 1, Lost 2

2016

SLC Tournament, Sugar Land, Texas

No. 6 McNeese State L 3-0

No. 7 New Orleans L 6-5

Won 0, Lost 2

2018

SLC Tournament, Sugar Land, Texas

No. 6 McNeese State W 3-0

No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana W 5-1

No. 7 Nicholls W 3-2

No. 8 New Orleans W 7-5

Won 4, Lost 0

2018 NCAA Regional at Corvallis, Oregon #3 Oregon State L

San Diego State W 9-0

LSU L 9-5

Won 1, Lost 2

2019

SLC Tournament, Sugar Land, Texas

No. 2 Central Arkansas L 2-0

No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana L 6-4

Won 0, Lost 2

SLC Tournament, Hammond

2021

No. 3 Southeastern Louisiana L 2-1

No. 2 New Orleans L 14-1

Won 0, Lost 2

LSU L 12-4

Won 1, Lost 2

2006

SLC Tournament, Beaumont, Texas

No.1 McNeese W 9-1

No. 3 UTSA (7 innings) L 10-0

No. 2 Texas State W 9-8

No. 4 Lamar (8 innings) W 11-4

No. 5 UTA (championship) L 8-2

Won 3, Lost 2

1998

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

SLC Tournament, Shreveport, La.

Sam Houston L 4-2

Northeast Louisiana W 11-0

Southwest Texas W 7-3

Nicholls L 5-4

Won 2, Lost 2

2022

SLC Tournament, Lake Charles

No. 4 Nicholls L 7-6

No. 2 New Orleans L 14-1

Won 0, Lost 2

2008

SLC Tournament, Huntsville, Texas

No. 4 SHSU L 7-1

No. 1 UTSA L 9-7

Won 0, Lost 2

NCAA REGIONAL LINESCORES

1991

NCAA South II Regional at Baton Rouge, La.

May 24

LSU 13, Northwestern State 2

Northwestern State 000 001 001 - 2 7 6

LSU 150 032 02x - 13 17 0

W - Ogea (11-5). L - Benson (6-3). T - 2:55. A - 5,388

HR: NSU Hartsburg (3); LSU Hymel (20).

May 25

UL Lafayette 11, Northwestern State 7

UL Lafayette 300 050 210 - 11 11 2

Northwestern State 000 013 300 - 7 10 3

W - De Jesus (7-1). L - Shepherd (8-5). S - Haught (1). T - 3:19.

A - 1,852.

HR: UL Lafayette Ramos (6), Grossie (5); NSU Deshotels (1), Ross 2 (5).

1994

NCAA Midwest I Regional at Stillwater, Okla.

May 27

Cal State Fullerton 11, Northwestern State 3

Northwestern State 000 100 110 - 3 6 6

Cal State Fullerton 100 320 05x - 11 12 3

W - Ricabal (9-1). L - Moore (9-3). S - Silva (12). T - 2:39. A - 2,121.

Northwestern State 000 104 030 - 8 8 0

Illinois State 000 010 100 - 2 6 6

W - Gatewood (11-3). L - O’Malley (4-5). T - 2:02. A - 2,349.

HR: NSU Guajardo; Illinois State Gainer 2 (14).

May 29

Memphis 14, Northwestern State 9

Memphis 320 021 600 - 14 15 2

Northwestern State 000 210 051 - 9 16 4

W - McCommon (10-2). L - Pomirko (9-4).

HR: Memphis Curtis; NSU Donner.

2005 NCAA Regional at Baton Rouge, La.

June 3

Rice 7, Northwestern State 3

Northwestern State 100 101 000 - 3 8 2

Rice 001 200 22x - 7 9 1

W - Geer (11-4). L - S. Johnston (2-1). T - 2:35. A - 6,509

HR: NSU Morgan (8); Rice Rodriguez (11), Reichenbach (4).

June 4

Northwestern State 4, Marist 3

M arist 200 010 000 - 3 4 0

Northwestern State 000 130 00x - 4 10 1

W - Jones (7-3). L - Smith (7-2). T - 2:41. A - 6,479.

HR: Marist Brachold (7).

June 5-6

LSU 12, Northwestern State 4

Northwestern State 010 002 100 - 4 11 6

LSU 010 106 40x - 12 12 1

W - Mestepey (7-3). L - S. Johnston (2-2). S - Ramirez (1). T - 3:08.

A - 6,742.

HR: NSU Derosa (2).

NOTE: Game began on June 5 before finishing on June 6 following a weather delay.

2018 NCAA Regional at Corvallis, Ore.

June 1

Oregon State 9, Northwestern State 3

Northwestern State 000 010 110 - 3 6 1

Oregon State 002 204 01x - 9 9 1

W - Fehmel (10-1). L - Heisler (7-3). T - 2:50. A - 3,908

HR: NSU Kunert (2); S. Taylor (1); OSU, Nobach (5), Taylor (2).

NCAA Regionals: 1991 • 1994

2005 • 2018

Tournament Championships: 2018

June 2

San

W

Northwestern

HR: NSU Smith (6), Adkins (3).

June 3

LSU 9, Northwestern State 5

LSU 101 000 205 - 9 16 3

Northwestern State 000 202 010 - 5 7 4

W - Beck (4-1). L - Vasquez (6-2). T - 2:57. A - 3,533.

HR: LSU Watson (7); NSU Kunert (3), Davis (5), S. Taylor (2).

Kwan Adkins celebrates a double in NSU’s 9-0 Corvallis Regional win against San Diego State in 2018.

Catcher Marty Dewees (left) congratulates pitcher Blake Jones after Jones recorded the final out of the Demons’ 4-3 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional win against Marist on June 4, 2005.

Danny Bob Turner

3B • 1967

NAIA Second Team

Northwestern State’s first All-American baseball player, winning that honor in 1967. Turner came to Northwestern from Fair Park High School in Shreveport. He won the 1967 Gulf Star Conference batting title as he hit .411 during the regular season and .443 in conference games. Turner played for the 1967 GSC championship team that made the NCAA Midwest Regional. 1967 statistics - 37 hits in 90 at bats, 27 runs batted in , 4 triples, 5 doubles, and 1 home run, 53 total bases. His No. 7 was retired in 2020.

Darryl Woods

C • 1974 NAIA, NCAA Second Team

Northwestern’s second All-American selection from New Orleans Redemptorist High School, earned All-American honors during the 1974 season. Woods set an NCAA home run record with 18 in 38 games. He hit one in the NAIA playoffs but only regular season stats count towards a record. Woods was enshrined in the “N” Club Hall of Fame in 1992. 1974 statistics.376 batting average, 52 RBI, 105 total bases, .840 slugging average and a .984 fielding percentage.

Reggie Gatewood

P • 1994

NCBWA Second Team

Reggie Gatewood was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association second-team after guiding Northwestern to its second NCAA Regional appearance. The Mabelvale, Ark., native finished the season 11-3 with a 2.14 ERA. He completed 11 of the 14 games he started and led the team with 101 innings pitched. Gatewood is tied with Eric Barkley for most career shutouts at six and ranks third in wins (21), fourth in winning percentage (.807, 21-5) and fourth in ERA (2.56).

Ryan Anholt

SS • 1998

ABCA Third Team Shortstop Ryan

Anholt is the fifth Northwestern State All-American baseball player. The sweet-swinging, left hander from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, was a third-team selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association after a solid season in 1998. In 1999, Anholt proved his talent in the classroom, as well as on the field, as he was a thirdteam selection on the prestigious GTE Academic All-America Team. Along with his All-American selections, Anholt was selected Southland Conference Player of the Year, SLC Newcomer of the Year, first team All-Louisiana, and first team All-Region (South Central) after the 1998 season. He finished his career at NSU with a .368 batting average, the second highest in program history.

Adam Oller

P • 2016 Collegiate Baseball Magazine Second Team; ABCA Third Team

Adam Oller became the first Demon to earn All-American honors in 17 years and the first NSU pitcher to do so in 22 years. Oller finished the season 8-1 with a 1.23 ERA, which ranked third nationally. A Conroe, Texas, native, Oller tossed 109 2-3 innings, the second-highest total in school single season history. Oller finished his career with the fourth-most career innings (310 1-3) and career starts (43), the sixth-most strikeouts (188), the eighth-most wins (20) and the ninth-highest winning percentage (.745) in school history.

David Fry

1B • 2018 Collegiate Baseball Magazine Third Team

David Fry became the first Northwestern State position player named to an All-American team in two decades after a remarkable senior season. The Southland Conference Player of the Year and All-Louisiana Hitter of the Year won his second straight team triple crown, batting .327 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Fry set the school single-season doubles record (26) and finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in doubles (74) and at-bats (851) while tying Darryl Woods’ career home run mark of 31.

Fry was named the Southland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Demons to the first SLC Tournament title in program history.

Logan Hofmann

P • 2020 Collegiate Baseball Magazine Second Team

A touted junior college transfer who had been a Cape Cod League All-Star, Logan Hofmann lived up to his billing. Making just four starts before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down his lone season at Northwestern State, Hofmann did not allow an earned run in 28 innings, striking out 38 across four starts. He finished 4-0 and led the country in ERA, earning second-team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball magazine before being drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball FirstYear Player Draft by Pittsburgh.

Terry Joseph

CF • 1993/1995

GTE Academic All-America

Northwestern’s first Academic All-American selection from Marrerro Archbishop Shaw High School, Joseph finished as the all-time leader in 10 offensive categories, including runs scored (231), hits (225), doubles (45), triples (16) and stolen bases (100). He is one of only 12 players in Southland Conference history to earn first-team honors three straight years. Joseph was named SLC and Louisiana Player of the Year as a senior and was a 13th round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs.

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS

FRESHMEN ALL-AMERICANS

Ryan Anholt

SS • 1998

GTE Academic All-America

Shortstop Ryan Anholt is the fifth Northwestern State All-American baseball player. The sweet-swinging, left hander from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, was a third-team selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association after a solid season in 1998. In 1999, Anholt proved his talent in the classroom, as well as on the field, as he was a third-team selection on the prestigious GTE Academic All-America Team. Along with his All-American selections, Anholt was selected Southland Conference Player of the Year, SLC Newcomer of the Year, first team All-Louisiana, and first team AllSouth Central Region after the 1998 season. He finished his career with a .368 batting average, the second highest in program history.

Bobby Barbier

1B • 2004

CoSIDA Academic All-America

Bobby Barbier became Northwestern State’s eighth student-athlete to garner academic All-American honors when he was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team in 2004. Graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance.

Mike Jaworski

1B • 2008

CoSIDA Academic All-America

Mike Jaworski joined an elite list of Demon baseball players in 2008 when he was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team, earning second-team honors in the university division released by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Jaworski received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in the spring of 2008.

P • 2020

CoSIDA Academic All-America

Kyle Swanson became Northwestern State baseball’s fifth Academic All-American, earning thirdteam honors in 2020. A member of Sam Houston State’s first class of its College of Osteopathic Medicine, Swanson earned two degrees while at Northwestern State and ended his career tied for seventh in school history with eight saves despite losing almost three quarters of his senior season to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kyle Swanson

Kyle Broughton, RHP, 2005 Collegiate Baseball Magazine

Dereck Cloeren, RHP, 2005 Collegiate Baseball Magazine

Adam Oller, RHP, 2014 Collegiate Baseball Magazine

Johnathan Harmon, RHP, 2020 Collegiate Baseball Magazine

Chad Sheppard, RHP, 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine AllPing!

Daunte Stuart, 2B, 2021 Collegiate Baseball Magazine

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES

ALL-GULF STAR CONFERENCE 1985

David Bailey, Vaughn Williams, Gary Friess

1986

Jeff Hale, John Cryer

ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE 1988

First Team: Dickey Marze, Bob Kairis

1989

Second Team: Rod Robertson

1990

Newcomer of the Year: Skip

Madden

First Team: John Surane, Dean Montgomery

Second Team: Skip Madden

1991

Coach of the Year: Jim Wells

Pitcher of the Year: Barry

Shepherd

Player of the Year: Brian Carlin

Newcomer of the Year: Brian Carlin

First Team: Jay Williams, Brian Carlin, Barry Shepherd

Second Team: James McCarthy, Deon Montgomery, Steve Smith

1992

First Team: Mickey Mondello, Troy Conkle, Kyle Shade

Second Team: Daniel Tomlin

1993

Coach of the Year: Jim Wells

Pitcher of the Year: Reggie

Gatewood

Newcomer of the Year: Reggie

Gatewood

Player of the Year: Kyle Shade

Hitter of the Year: Kyle Shade

First Team: Kyle Shade, Troy

Conkle, Terry Joseph, Reggie

Gatewood

Second Team: Dom Viola

1994

Coach of the Year: Jim Wells

First Team: Reggie Gatewood, Jim Pomirko, Scotty Stafford,

Matt Donner, Terry Joseph

Second Team: Keith Moore, Brad Duncan, Robert Landstad

1995

Coach of the Year: Dave Van Horn

Player of the Year: Terry Joseph

Hitter of the Year: Terry Joseph

First Team: Brian Dulin, Matt Donner, Terry Joseph

Second Team: Jon Black, Will Pearce

1996

First Team: Nick Simokatis

Second Team: Zack Martin, Rick Metcalfe, Tony Pezely, Fred Ortega

1997

Coach of the Year: Dave Van Horn

Newcomer of the Year: Josh Hoffpauir

First Team: Brian Lawrence, Robert Hewes

Second Team: Josh Hoffpauir, Tony Pezely

1998

Coach of the Year: John Cohen

Player of the Year: Ryan Anholt

Newcomer of the Year: Ryan Anholt

Pitcher of the Year: Brian Lawrence

First Team: Brian Lawrence, Ryan Anholt

Second Team: Brandon

Emanuel, Derek Nunn, Ronnie Quintana

1999

Newcomer of the Year: Adam Stout

First Team: Adam Stout

Second Team: Ryan Anholt

2000

First Team: Jordan Robison

2001

Coach of the Year: John Cohen

Newcomer of the Year: O.J. King

First Team: David Quattrociocchi, Jordan Robison, Brad Hanson

Second Team: O.J. King, Carl Makowsky

2002

Pitcher of the Year: O.J. King

First Team: Brad Hanson, Anatole Vincent, O.J. King

2003

First Team: Josh Boop

Third Team: Anatole Vincent, Michael Palermo

2004

First Team: Brandon Morgan, Tigger Lyles, Josh Boop, Clayton Turner

Honorable Mention: Rusty Jones, Bobby Barbier, Mike Breaux

2005

First Team: Bobby Barbier, Rusty Jones, Blake Jones

Second Team: Marty Dewees, Daniel Lonsberry

Third Team: Brandon Morgan, Michael Palermo, Dereck Cloeren, Kyle Broughton

Honorable Mention: Blake Jones (P)

2006

First Team: Brandon Morgan

Third Team: Daniel Clark, Scott Pittenger, Michael Palermo

2007

First Team: Brandon Richey

2008

First Team: Anthony Jones

Third Team: Mike Jaworski, Chase Lyles, Justin O’Neal, Jimmy Heard

Honorable Mention: Clayton Cooper

2009

Third Team: Jimmy Heard, Trent Grondin

Honorable Mention: Chase Lyles, Justin O’Neal, Joe Urtuzuastegui, Beau Snodgrass

2010

Relief Pitcher of the Year: Chad Sheppard

First Team: Luke Irvine, Aaron Munoz, Eric DeBlanc, Oscar Garcia

Second Team: Chase Lyles

Third Team: Chad Sheppard, Ryan Zimmerman

Honorable Mention: Adam Roy, Justin Martinez

2011

Third Team: Colin Bear, Luke Irvine

Reggie Gatewood was named the 1993 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year and was a two-time, first-team All-Southland selection.

2012

Second Team: Will Watson

Third Team: Drew Helenihi, Joe Scanio

Honorable Mention: Nick

Hinojos, Mason Melotakis

2014

Freshman of the Year: Adam Oller

Second Team: Chase Daughdrill, Adam Oller

2015

Hitter of the Year: Cort Brinson

Student-Athlete of the Year: Cort Brinson

First Team: Cort Brinson

Third Team: David Fry, Adam Oller, C.J. Webster

2016

Pitcher of the Year: Adam

Oller

First Team: Adam Oller

Second Team: David Fry

Third Team: Nick Heath

2017

Second Team: David Fry

2018

Player of the Year: David Fry

Newcomer of the Year: Jerry Maddox

Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Bobby Barbier

First Team: David Fry

Second Team: Jerry Maddox

Third Team: Ridge Heisler, J.P. Lagreco

2019

Second Team: Nathan Jones

Third Team: Caleb Ricca, Tyler Smith

2020

No teams chosen because of COVID-19 pandemic.

2021

Second Team: Daunte Stuart

Third Team: Cal Carver, Levi David

2022

First Team: Johnathan Harmon, Bo Willis

Second Team: Cal Carver

Third Team: Daunte Stuart

ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES

Brandon Morgan was a three-time All-Southland Conference selection from 2004-06.

Runs:

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

team records 2022 superlatives

SINGLE GAME

38 vs. Loyola, 3/2/94

*25 vs. SLU, 3/12/97

Hits:

28 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 4/25/18 vs. Loyola, 3/2/94

*26 at UTSA, 3/17/12

Most Triples

4 vs. TX Southern, 4/12/01

*3 vs. McNeese State, 3/14/10

Most Home Runs

8 vs. ULL, 4/8/97

*5 at McNeese, 5/6/22 at Abilene Christian, 3/9/19 vs. UTSA, 4/17/10

Most Stolen Bases

11 vs. Grambling, 3/9/04

Most Base on Balls

17 vs. Alcorn (Game 1), 3/12/22

Most DP Turned

*5 at Little Rock, 3/3/18 at UTA, 3/21/09 vs. UTSA, 3/9/96 vs. UTA, 3/2/96 vs. ULL, 4/26/94

Most Stikeouts Thrown 22 vs. McNeese (Game 2), 5/8/21

Largest Margin of Victory 35 vs. Loyola, 3/2/94 (38-3)

TEAM SINGLE GAME HIGHS HITTING

At-bats: 40, vs. Lamar, March 15 at Nicholls, April 16

Runs: 21, vs. Lamar, March 15

Hits: 20, vs. Lamar, March 15

RBIs: 2-0, vs. Lamar, March 15

Doubles: 6, vs. Alcorn (Game 2), March 12 (

Triples: 2, vs. Lamar, March 15

Home Runs: 5, at McNeese, May 6

Total Bases: 31, vs. Lamar, March 15 at McNeese, May 6

Walks: 17, vs. Alcorn (Game1), March 12

Strikeouts: 16, vs. Oklahoma, Feb. 27

Sacrifice hits: 2, done five times

Sacrifice flies: 3, at McNeese, May 7

Stolen bases: 3, at ULM, March 9

Hit by pitch: 8, vs. Alcorn (Game 1), March 12

Caught stealing:2, at New Orleans, March 27

Left on base: 14, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1

Hit into DP: 3, vs. ULM, May 10

FIELDING

Putouts: 30, vs. A&M-Corpus Christi, April 1 30, at McNeese, May 7

Assists: 16, vs. Nebraska, March 5

Errors: 4, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1 4, at McNeese, May 6

Passed Balls: 2, vs. New Orleans, May 13

DPs turned: 3, vs. Louisiana Tech, May 4

PITCHING

Innings Pitched: 10.0, vs. A&M-Corpus Christi, April 1 at McNeese, May 7

Runs allowed: 19, at LSU, May 17

Earned runs: 18, at LSU, May 17

Walks: 11, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Strikeouts: 16, vs. LSU-Alexandria, April 19

Hits: 17, vs. McNeese, May 6 vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Doubles: 7, at McNeese, may 6

Triples: 2, at Incarnate Word, April 10

Home Runs: 6, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Wild pitches: 4, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Feb. 18 vs. Lamar, March 15 vs. Houston Christian, April 24

Hit batters: 10, at LSU, May 17

INDIVIDUAL GAME HIGHS HITTING

At-bats: 6, done 10 times

Runs: 4, done four times

Hits: 4, Daunte Stuart, vs. Lamar, March 15

RBIs: 7, Bo Willis, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1

Doubles: 2, done four times

Triples: 1, done seventimes

Home Runs: 2, Bo Willis, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1

Jeffrey Elkins, at McNeese, May 6

Austin Kirkpatrick, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Total Bases: 8, Bo Willis, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1

Jeffrey Elkins, at McNeese, May 6 Austin Kirkpatrick, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Walks: 4, Bo Willis, at New Orleans, March 27

Strikeouts: 4,Daunte Stuart, at UL Lafayette, March 2

Sacrifice hits: 2, Cam Sibley, vs. LSU-Alexandria, April 19

Sacrifice flies: 1, done 22 times

Stolen bases: 1, done 36, times

Hit by pitch: 2, done nine times

Caught stealing: 1, done 14 times

Left on base: 6, Jake Haze, vs. UL Lafayette, March 1

FIELDING

Putouts: 17, Bailyn Sorensen, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Feb. 18

Assists: 7, Cam Sibley, vs. Nebraska, March 5 Cam Sibley, at New Orleans, March 25

Errors: 2, done five times

Passed Balls: 2, Bailyn Sorensen, vs. New Orleans, May 13

PITCHING

Innings Pitched: 9.0, Johnathan Harmon, at New Orleans, March 26 Johnathan Harmon, vs. Houston Christian, April 23

Runs allowed: 10, Cal Carver, at McNeese, May 6

Earned runs: 7, Donovan Ohnoutka, vs. South Dakota State, March 17

Drayton Brown, at McNeese, May 8 Cal Carver, vs. Nicholls, May 19

Walks: 5, Drayton Brown, vs. UT Arlington, March 6 Cameron Taylor, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Strikeouts: 11, Cal Carver, vs. Alcorn (Game 1), March 12

Hits: 13, Cal Carver, at Incarnate Word, April 8

Doubles: 4, Johnathan Harmon, at Incarnate Word, April 9 Cal Carver, at McNeese, May 6

Triples: 1, done seven times

Home Runs: 4, Drayton Brown, at McNeese, May 8

Johnathan Harmon, vs. Incarnate Word, May 20

Wild pitches: 4, Cal Carver, vs. Stephen F. Austin, Feb. 18

Hit Batters: 3, done three times

Series records since 1990

Team W-L Last Played

Team W-L Last Played

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

1990: 38-13; 9-9 SLC

Head Coach: Jim Wells

* - Southland Conference games

1991: 40-21; 13-5 SLC

Head Coach: Jim Wells SLC CHAMPIONS NCAA REGIONALS

1993 Southland Conference champions

5-4(10)

3/6 at *McNeese L 4-5

3/6 at *McNeese W 7-3

3/7 at *McNeese W 6-3(12)

3/10 Ouachita Baptist W 11-0

3/10 Ouachita Baptist W 8-1

3/17 Peru St. W 7-2

3/17 Peru St. W 4-1

3/20 *Southwest Texas L 8-9

3/20 *Southwest Texas W 20-0

3/21 *Southwest Texas L 4-9

3/23 Ark.-Monticello W 8-2

3/23 Ark.-Monticello W 10-4

3/24 at Grambling W 17-12

3/25 at USL W 7-6

3/28 Southern Ark. L 0-2

3/28 Southern Ark. L 8-9

3/31 at La. Tech W 18-9

4/3 at *Sam Houston W 4-0

4/3 at *Sam Houston W 1-0

4/4 at *Sam Houston W 7-6

4/6 LSU (Alexandria) W 6-5

4/9 *Stephen F. Austin W 11-4

4/10 *Stephen F. Austin W 4-3

4/10 *Stephen F. Austin W 6-5

4/17 at *Texas-Arlington W 6-3

4/17 at *Texas-Arlington L 0-10

4/18 at *Texas-Arlington L 2-3

4/20 at Southeastern La. W 7-0

4/21 Grambling W 12-5

4/24 Baptist Christian W 7-1

4/24 Baptist Christian W 8-2

4/27 Centenary W 5-3

5/2 *Nicholls W 2-0

5/2 *Nicholls L 2-4

5/3 *Nicholls W 6-3

5/8 at *UTSA W 9-3

5/8 at *UTSA W 4-2

5/9 at *UTSA L 11-12(12)

5/12 Ark.-Monticello W 8-6

5/12 Ark.-Monticello W 14-1

5/15 #McNeese L 2-4

5/16 #Texas-Arlington L 6-12

* - Southland Conference games

# - SLC Tournament

1994: 45-15; 16-5 SLC

Head Coach: Jim Wells

SLC

1995: 37-15; 19-5 SLC

Head Coach: Dave Van Horn SLC CHAMPIONS

yearly results

at *Texas-San Antonio L 5-8

3/8 at *Texas-San Antonio W 7-2

3/10 at Ark.-Little Rock L 5-11

3/12 LSU-Shreveport W 4-3

3/14 *Southwest Texas L 5-6

3/14 *Southwest Texas L 5-8

3/15 *Southwest Texas W 6-5

3/17 at La. Tech L 2-8

3/21 at *Texas-Arlington W 21-2

3/21 at *Texas-Arlington L 3-9

3/22 at *Texas-Arlington W 8-7

3/24 at LSU L

4/8 at Texas Southern W 17-8

4/10 *Nicholls W 5-1

4/11

2001 Southland Conference champions

2000: 30-26; 14-13

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

#

*

2003:

2002 Southland Conference champions

2005: 41-20; 22-5 SLC

Head Coach: Mitch Gaspard SLC CHAMPIONS NCAA REGIONALS

Head Coach: Mitch Gaspard

* - Southland Conference games

^ - Louisiana-Lafayette Round Robin

# - SLC Tournament (Beaumont, Texas)

2007: 25-28; 15-14 SLC

Head Coach: Mitch Gaspard

5/3

* - Southland Conference games

# - SLC Tournament (Huntsville, Tex.)

2009: 26-26, 18-13 SLC Head Coach: J.P. Davis

Date Opponent W/L Results

2/20 ^at ULM W 8-3 (10)

2/21 ^vs. MVSU L 12-5

2/22 ^vs. Stephen F. Austin L 7-2

2/24 Grambling W 11-1

2/25 Louisiana Tech L 9-8

2/27 Houston Christian W 16-0

2/28 Houston Christian W 4-0

3/1 Houston Christian W 14-6

3/3 at Tulane W 10-6 (10)

3/4 at Tulane L 12-3

3/6 *at McNeese St. W 8-6

3/7 *at McNeese St. W 10-9

3/8 *at McNeese St. L 15-14

3/15 *Stephen F. Austin W 5-3

3/15 *Stephen F. Austin W 9-8

3/17 at #5 LSU L 2-1

3/20 *at UTA L 5-0

3/21 *at UTA L 4-2

3/22

2005 Southland Conference champions, Baton Rouge Regional entrant

#

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

yearly results

*

5/8 *at Abilene Christian W 6-5 (12)

5/9 *at Abilene Christian W 12-6

5/10 *at Abilene Christian W 6-4

5/12 at Louisiana Tech L 13-8

5/14 *Nicholls W 7-0

5/15 *Nicholls L 1-0 (6)

5/20 ^Houston Christian L 4-1

5/21 ^Nicholls W 4-3

5/22 ^Central Arkansas L 5-4

* -- Southland Conference games

^ -- SLC Tournament (Sugar Land, Texas)

2016: 33-24, 20-10 SLC

Head Coach: Lane Burroughs

Date Opponent W/L Results

2/19 Alabama State W 1-0 (11)

2/20 Alabama State W 4-2

2/21 Alabama State W 8-4

2/24 Sacramento State L 4-2

2/26 at Southern Miss L 8-6

2/27 at Southern Miss L 15-5

2/28 at Southern Miss L 8-5

3/4 at Arizona W 6-4

3/5 St. Mary’s (Tucson, AZ) W 9-3

3/6 CSU Bakesrfield (Tuscon) W 9-7

3/6 at Arizona L 4-1

3/8 at No. 3 Texas A&M L 7-6

3/12 *Lamar W 2-0

3/13 *Lamar L 6-5 (10) 3/13 *Lamar W 5-1 3/16 UL Lafayette L 10-1

3/18 *at Sam Houston State W 7-5

3/19 *at Sam Houston State L 2-1

3/20 *at Sam Houston State L 2-1

3/23 Grambling W 2-1

3/24

2018: 38-24; 18-12 SLC

Head Coach: Bobby Barbier SLC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS NCAA REGIONALS

2018 Southland Conference Tournament champions, Corvallis Regional entrant

2020: 12-4, 2-1 SLC

Head Coach: Bobby Barbier

* - Southland Conference games

# - SLC Tournament (Sugar Land, Texas))

^ - NCAA Corvallis Regional

2019: 30-25; 15-15 SLC

Head Coach: Bobby Barbier

- Southland Conference games

NOTE: Season canceled March 14 because of coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: 27-26, 20-16 SLC

Head Coach: Bobby Barbier

5/7 *McNeese L 7-1

5/7 *McNeese W 4-3

5/8 *McNeese W 4-3 (10)

5/8 *McNeese W 6-5 (11)

5/14 *at Stephen F. Austin L 8-3

5/15 *at Stephen F. Austin L 9-4

5/15 *at Stephen F. Austin W 5-4

5/16 *at Stephen F. Austin L 7-2

5/18 at LSU W 7-3

5/26 #at Southeastern La. L 2-1

5/27 #vs. New Orleans L 14-1 (7)

* - Southland Conference games

# - SLC Tournament (Hammond)

2022: 25-29, 12-12 SLC

Head Coach: Bobby Barbier

2/20 Stephen F. Austin W

Dr. Marcus Jones

Northwestern State President

After more than four months in the interim role, Dr. Marcus Jones was named president of Northwestern State University on Nov. 8, 2021, while a search for the university’s 20th president is underway. The appointment was approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System in April. Information about a presidential search is forthcoming.

students at NSU from outside the U.S.

Jones has also been treasurer and a consultant to the Ben D. Johnson Educational Foundation and finance/accounts manager and consultant for the Ben D. Johnson Construction and Finance Co. In his role with the construction and finance company, Jones supervised subcontractors at construction sites, managed the company’s operating budget, provided financial oversight and worked in economic development. He has also served as treasurer and consultant of the Northwest Louisiana Athletic League and has served in several capacities including co-editor of “Callaloo,” a literary magazine based at Texas A&M.

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

President:

Dr. Marcus Jones

Executive Assitant to the President/Director of Strategic Initiatives

Cole Gentry

Provost & VP for Academic Affairs:

Dr. Greg Handel

Interim Executive Vice President for External Affairs:

Dr. Drake Owens

Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion:

Dr. Michael Snowden

Vice President for Technology, Innovation and Economic Development:

Dr. Darlene Williams

Jones has an extensive academic, business and legal background, having served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the University of Louisiana System for the past year, where oversaw the areas of business finance, internal/external audit function, EEO and IT for the System and handled matters of system level importance on behalf of the UL System president. He also oversaw management of budgets, administration, policies and procedures and international relations and acted as the legal liaison for the System.

Jones served as NSU’s executive vice president for university and business affairs from 2017-2020 where he was a key administrator in the planning, operation and management of the University. He oversaw University Police, the Environmental Health and Safety office, Grounds Department and the Physical Plant and was responsible for construction, maintenance, custodial and general upkeep of all University facilities and grounds. He also reviewed and executed University leases and cooperative agreements and oversaw the environmental health and safety officer. He was NSU’s vice president for university affairs from 2007 to 2017.

Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Northwestern State, a master’s in international trade and finance from Grambling State University and a law degree from Southern University Law Center where he was managing editor of the Southern Law Review. He also studied international business and finance at the University of Plymouth in Plymouth, England.

Jones has been a member of Northwestern’s faculty since 1994 as an instructor of business, assistant professor of business law and international business, associate professor of business law and international business and has held the Ben D. Johnson Endowed Professorship since 1999. Proficient in Spanish and French, he led the university’s international recruiting efforts, which substantially increased the number of

He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the American Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Kevin Bostian Director of Athletics

Kevin Bostian took control of the Northwestern State athletic department in February 2022, three weeks after being named NSU’s new Director of Athletics.

Regarded as a team builder with an innate ability to raise funds, Bostian came to Natchitoches after nearly two years at UNC Greensboro, serving as the Spartans’ executive associate athletic director for development.

While at UNCG, the 43-year-old Bostian had the athletic department on pace for its highest fundraising year in school history. In his final full year at UNCG, the athletic department raised $1.8 million in funds, surpassing its goal by 50 percent.

Throughout his nearly two-decade long career in college athletic administration, Bostian has consistently surpassed his goals and currently has UNCG on pace for its highest fundraising year in school history in the 2022 fiscal year. In his first year with the Spartans, UNCG athletics raised $1.8 million in funds for the department, surpassing their goal by 50 percent.

He also oversaw the UNCG athletics ticketing, marketing and promotions and athletics communications offices and was the sports administrator for the UNCG men’s basketball team, which won the Southern Conference regular-season and tournament championships and reached the NCAA Tournament.

In addition to his role in the external operations department, Bostian served as the interim athletic director at UNCG from September 2021 through earlier this month.

Before coming to UNCG, Bostian was a major gifts officer at his alma mater, North Carolina State. As the officer in charge of gifts of more than $50,000, Bostian secured nearly $2.5 million in gifts in his 25 months with The Wolfpack Club.

Prior to his arrival at NC State, Bostian spent almost four years as Georgia Southern’s senior associate athletic director and executive director of the athletic foundation where he increased the athletic department’s revenue three straight years and helped cultivate a record number of donors four straight years. While at Georgia Southern, Bostian secured the second-largest cash gift in the department’s history and helped GSU push its athletic revenue to $3.909 million during the 2017 fiscal year.

A veteran of mid-major college athletics, Bostian spent more than three years at Tennessee Tech as its associate athletic director for development, serving as the department’s chief fundraiser. Bostian secured the largest gift in Tennessee Tech athletics history, maintained a portfolio of more than 200 donors and increased total donor revenue by 80 percent, total number of donors by more than 77 percent and total number of major gifts by 58 percent.

Bostian spent nearly seven years at East Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tennessee, starting as a marketing, promotions, merchandise and licensing coordinator before moving into the director of corporate sales, marketing and regional athletic advancement position. He then spent three years as ETSU’s assistant athletic director of corporate development and regional athletic advancement.

In his time as the assistant athletic director, Bostian increased corporate sponsorship cash revenue and total revenue all three years and overall boosted cash revenue by 69 percent and total revenue by 47.6 percent. He developed, implemented and solicited donors on a capital campaign for a new weight room and a phase of the baseball stadium project at ETSU.

Bostian began his athletic administration career as a marketing specialist at South Alabama and spent a year as the sports marketing coordinator at the Gwinnett County Sports Commission in metro Atlanta.

A 2000 magna cum laude graduate of North Carolina State in business management, Bostian earned his master’s of business administration and master’s of sports administration from Ohio University in 2002.

He and his wife, Megan, have three children, Ayla, Zoe and Piper.

What they say about Kevin Bostian

“Kevin is a great relationship builder with a lot of hustle. Those two traits combined really equal success. He’s hungry to build a team and achieve success. He’s competitive, which is what you want to see in your athletic director. He wants to win.”

— Beth Fischer, Vice Chancellor University Advancement, UNC Greensboro

“When I was searching for an athletics administration, right before COVID, I was looking for three things – one, someone who fit the values of the institutions and focused on being student-athlete centered and he met that. Two, good character. He met that. And three, a commitment to the student-athlete and he met that. He’s ready because of the experiences he’s had prior to accepting this position. He’s passionate, authentic, no one will beat his work ethic. He is someone who will do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

—

“Kevin is a genuine, thoughtful, visionary leader who is the perfect fit for Northwestern State. His dedicated work and training focused on student-athlete success and experiences will allow building on the foundation of excellence established by Greg Burke over his numerous years of service. Congratulations to Northwestern State and the Bostian family!”

Mark Wilson, Director of Athletics, Tennessee Tech

Northwestern State Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian (second from right) poses with (from left) his father Mike, mother Patti, daughter Zoe, wife Megan, daughter Piper (front) and daughter Ayla following his introductory news conference in January.

Kim Record, former director of athletics, UNC Greensboro

Northwestern State Demon Baseball 2023

Jason PUGH

Assistant AD for Media Relations

9TH YEAR AT NSU

Jason Pugh took the reins of the Northwestern State sports information office in May, 2019 following the retirement of longtime assistant athletic director/sports information director Doug Ireland.

In five-plus years at Northwestern State, Pugh has coordinated publicity for three baseball All-Americans — pitcher Adam Oller (2016 Collegiate Baseball; American Baseball Coaches Association), David Fry (2018 Collegiate Baseball) and Logan Hofmann (2020 Collegiate Baseball). He spearheaded efforts to ensure all NSU baseball games are available via streaming audio beginning in the 2017 season, broadcasting select home and road games solo or serving as the color commentator on Demon Sports Network coverage.

During his 12-year tenure at The Times, Pugh was the Northwestern State football and men’s basketball beat writer from 2010-2013 and covered the 2012-13 NSU team that captured the program’s third NCAA Tournament berth.

While at The Times, Pugh covered the first three World Series that took place in Texas, one College World Series, one NCAA Men’s Final Four and Super Bowl XLV. He has won first-place awards in Best Feature Story and Best Sports Story from the Louisiana Press Association and first place in Best Prep Feature from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

While a student at Louisiana-Lafayette, Pugh was the sports editor of the campus newspaper, The Vermilion, for two years and was a part of the sports information office for three years. In 200001, Pugh was the primary media contact for the inaugural season of Lady Cajuns soccer and for the nationally ranked Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team, which made its lone College World Series appearance the previous year. He was the media relations contact for the 2001 Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament in Lafayette.

Pugh was named the 2001 Louisiana-Lafayette Department of Communication Outstanding Graduate. He completed his master’s in sport management from the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts in May 2015.

They cover The Demons: primary meDia ouTleTs

Daily Publications

- Alexandria Daily Town Talk, P.O. Box, 7558, Alexandria, LA 71306 (318-487-6351, fax 4876315)

- Jimmy Watson, Sports, The Times, 222 Lake Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 (318-459-3296, 800-462-6436, fax 459-3301)

- Perryn Keys, Sports, Baton Rouge Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225-383-1111, fax 388-0371)

- Russell Hedges, Sports, Bossier Press Tribune, 4250 Viking Dr., Bossier City, LA 71111 (318-352-3618, fax 747-5298)

- Leesville Daily Leader, P.O. Box 619, Leesville, LA 71446 (318-239-3444, fax 318-238-1552)

Non-Daily Newspapers

- NSU Current Sauce, Kyser Hall, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-5456, fax 357-6564)

- Sports, Times-Picayune/NOLA.com, 3800 Howard Ave., New Orleans, LA 70140 (504-826-3405, fax 826-3401)

-Natchitoches Times, 904 Hwy. 1 South, Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318-352-3618, fax 352-7842)

Television Stations

- Dylan Domangue, Elijah Nixon, Mary Margaret Ellison KALB-TV, 605 Washington St., Alexandria, LA 71306 (318-445-6397 exts. 516, 523; fax 442-7427)

- James Hadnot, KSLA-TV, 1812 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport, LA 71104 (318-677-6709, fax 677-6705)

- Tim Owens, John Sartori, Sam Rothman, KTAL-TV, 3150 N. Market St., Shreveport, LA 71107 (318-629-7134, 7133, fax 318-629-7171)

- Alex Anderson, Daniel Brown, KTBS-TV, 312 E. Kings Hwy., Shreveport LA 71104 (318-861-5838, fax 318-862-9431)

- David Antilley II, NSU-TV, 104A Kyser Hall, P.O. Box 5273, Natchitoches, LA 71497 (318-357-4417)

Campus Radio Station

- KNWD, 109 Kyser Hall, P.O. Box 5273, Natchitoches, LA 71497

Wire Service

(318-357-5693)

- Bret Martel, Associated Press, 1001 Howard Ave. Suite 200A, New Orleans, LA 70113 (800-662-7717, 504-523-3931, fax 586-0531)

Conference/NCAA Offices

- Southland Conference, 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 150, Frisco, TX 75034 (972-422-9500, fax 422-9225)

Assistant Communication Director

Brad WELBORN 4TH YEAR AT NSU

After running the sports information show at Louisiana College, Brad Welborn is beginning his second year as the assistant director of communication

Welborn began his Northwestern State tenure in July and will be covering volleyball, women’s basketball and track and field assisting in other duties.

At Louisiana College, Welborn was responsible for the publicity and statistics for the school’s 18 athletics programs.

He used his technical skills to implement live video streams for all Louisiana College home sporting events as well as a social media presence for the Wildcats on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. That included graphics and schedule posters as part of the publicity package.

Welborn has won two Louisiana Sports Writer’s Association feature writing awards and a radio sports story award from the Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press. He placed in the “best sports writer” category at the Southeast Journalism Conference.

Jonathon ZENK

Assistant Director of Communication

1ST YEAR AT NSU

After a two-year stint at LSU-Alexandria, Jonathon Zenk returned to Northwestern State as its assistant director of communication in July.

Zenk, who was a graduate assistant at in the NSU sports information department from 2018-20, spent the past two years as the sports information director at LSUA where he coordinated public relations and media coverage for all seven of the the school’s athletic programs.

After his first year at Northwestern State, he was presented the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Ace Higgins Award, given to the state’s top student assistant sports information staffer.

Zenk graduated in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. There, he worked for the ‘Fourth Estate,’ the school paper throughout his time in school. At Green Bay, he covered men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving and women’s volleyball.

Following his time at Green Bay, he has written stories online for sites, such as Packers Talk, Twins Daily and Football Dialogue.

- Jim Wright, NCAA Statistics, P.O. Box 6222, Indianapolis, IN 46206 (317-917-6222, fax 917-6888)

National Outlets

- USA Today, 7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22107 (703-276-3400)

- Sports Illustrated, Time/Life Building, New York, NY 10020 (212-522-5782, 212-9774540/4541)

- Sporting News, Box 56, St. Louis, MO 63166 (800-433-1886, 314-993-7111)

- CBS Sports, 51 W52nd St., 30th Floor, New York, NY 10019 (212-975-5162/3559)

- ABC Sports, 1330 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10019 (212-456-7777)

- ESPN, ESPN Plaza, Bristol, CT 06010 (203-585-2154/2125, 800-843-6416)

- CNN, One CNN Plaza, 100 International Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30348 (404-822-1588)

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SPORTS INFORMATION STAFF

Ronnie Pellegrin SID Admin. Asst.

Dr. Charles Pellegrin Statistician Davey Antilley Video Services

James Stanfield ESPN+ Coordinator

Caroline Bland SID Graduate Assitant