SHREVEPORT - Midweek success eluded Northwestern State for the sixth consecutive time Wednesday night after a Demon rally fell short against Centenary in an 8-7 loss.
The loss dropped the Demons to 17-13 on the season. NSU has not won a midweek contest since a 21-2 win over Grambling back on Mar. 5.
Centenary improved to 17-10 in snapping a five-game losing streak and ran its home record to a startling 16-1.
NSU played catch-up for most of the game, but squandered several opportunities.
First baseman Mike Jaworski, who finished the game 4 for 5 with four runs batted in, put the Demons up 2-0 in the first inning on a two run home run, his team-leading eighth of the season.
The Gents scored single runs in the bottom of the first and one in the second to tie the game, then plated three runs in the third and another in the fourth to go up 6-2.
Meanwhile, the Demons let chances slide away.
In the top of the third, shortstop Roberto Gallegos hit a lead-off single, then right-fielder Jordan Nipp followed with a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Centenary then got a liner double play and a caught stealing to get out of the inning.
In the fifth, catcher Miles Parsons (2 for 4) led off the inning with a single followed by a single from center-fielder Micah Tipton (2 for 4, 2 RBIs). Gallegos walked to load the bases with no outs, but Nipp struck out, Justin O'Neal popped out, and Jaworski struck out leaving all runners stranded.
NSU cut the lead to 6-3 in the sixth when Matthew McGlathery hit a one-out double, then scored on a single from Parsons.
In the seventh, Nipp hit a one-out single, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a Jaworski single to cut the gap to 6-4.
Centenary came back with a run in each the seventh and eighth innings to go up 8-4.
In the top of the ninth, Parson reached on an error and Tipton followed with a two-run homer, his third of the year, to pull the Demons to within 8-6.
After Centenary got the first two outs of the innings, O'Neal reached on an error, went to second on a wild pitch, then scored off of Jaworski's single to left field to cut the lead to 8-7. The game ended when Chase Lyles grounded out to the pitcher.
NSU starting pitcher Tommy Rozell (2-3) took the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings.
The Demons return to Southland Conference play on Friday when they open a three-game home series against Texas-San Antonio - the league's preseason favorite.
