# 2024 Northwestern State Demons baseball team

The 2024 Northwestern State Demons baseball team represented Northwestern State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Demons played their home games at H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field and were led by first–year head coach Chris Bertrand. They are members of the Southland Conference. They compiled a 22–33 overall record and finished with an 11–13 record tied for 4th place in conference play. Qualifying as the #4 seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Demons' season ended with a 0–2 in tournament play losing 5–10 to #5 seeded McNeese and 5–12 to #1 seeded Lamar.

## Previous season

The Demons had a regular season record of 29–27 and a conference record of 12–12 finishing in a three way tie for fifth place in conference play. They participated in the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament as the fifth seeded team winning a tie-breaker against New Orleans and Texas A&M–Corpus Christi. Northwestern State had a 2–2 record in the conference tournament defeating second seeded Incarnate Word and sixth seeded McNeese. They lost twice to fourth seeded New Orleans.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. Northwestern State was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference with 42 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 126 (14) |
| 2 | Lamar | 106 (1) |
| 3 | New Orleans | 92 (3) |
| 4 | Incarnate Word | 81 |
| 5 | McNeese | 67 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 55 |
| 7 | Southeastern Louisiana | 53 |
| 8 | Northwestern State | 42 |
| 9 | Houston Christian | 26 |

### Preseason All-Southland team

Bo Willis and Chase Prestwich were named to the conference preseason second team.

#### First Team

* Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
* MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
* Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
* Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
* Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
* Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)
* Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
* Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
* Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
* Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
* Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
* Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

#### Second Team

* Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
* Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
* Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)
* Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
* Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
* River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
* Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
* Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
* Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
* Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Northwestern State win |
| | Northwestern State loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Northwestern State team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
| † | Make-Up Game |
2024 Northwestern State Demons baseball game log :
Regular season (22–31) :
February (2–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| Feb. 16 | Southern Illinois* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 7– 14 | Aidan Foeller (1-0) | Prestwich, Chase (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 1,031 | 0–1 |
| Feb. 17 | Southern Illinois* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 9–14 | Mike Hansell (1-0) | Alexis, Adam (0-1) | Easton Dermody (1) | ESPN+ | 895 | 0–2 |
| Feb. 18 | Southern Illinois* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 11–15 | Cole Koonce (1-0) | Shahrdar, John (0-1) | Anthony Pron (1) | ESPN+ | 838 | 0–3 |
| Feb. 22 | vs. Northern Illinois* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 13–6 | Anderson, Austin (1-0) | BROUWER, Adam (0-2) | None | | 150 | 1–3 |
| Feb. 23 | vs. Stony Brook* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 5–2 | Prestwich, Chase (1-1) | T. Saunders (0-1) | Bunch, Caleb (1) | | 117 | 2–3 |
| Feb. 23 | vs. Northern Illinois* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 4–14 | BRACHBILL, Ty (1-1) | Leonard, Bryce (0-1) | None | | 104 | 2–4 |
| Feb. 24 | vs. Stony Brook* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 1–5 | N. Rizzo (1-1) | Marionneaux, Dylan (0-1) | None | | 104 | 2–5 |
| Feb. 27 | Louisiana–Monroe* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 2–9 | Corley, Brandt (1-0) | Newton, Aidan (0-1) | None | | 583 | 2–6 |
| Feb. 28 | at Louisiana* | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | 4–14 | Murphy Brooks (1-0) | Nichol, Tyler (0-1) | None | | 2,479 | 2–7 |
March (7–12) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar 1 | Troy* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 5–3 | Prestwich, Chase (1-0) | Stewart, Grayson (1-2) | Bryan, Tyler (1) | ESPN+ | 933 | 3–7 | |
| Mar 2 | Troy* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 6–3 | Flowers, Dawson (1-0) | King, Dylan (1-1) | Newton, Aidan (1) | ESPN+ | 1,033 | 4–7 | |
| Mar 3 | Troy* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 0–7 | Hartzog, Clete (3-0) | Marionneaux, Dylan (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 735 | 4–8 | |
| Mar 6 | Louisiana* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 0–3 | Brooks (2-0) | Robinson, Kevin (0-1) | Holzhammer (2) | ESPN+ | 1,021 | 4–9 | |
| Mar 9 | at Little Rock* | Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR | 3–6 | WELLS, Jackson (1-1) | Prestwich, Chase (2-2) | CLINE, Jack (1) | | 215 | 4–10 | |
| Mar 10 | at Little Rock* | Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR | 3–7 | KUYKENDALL, Thomas (2-0) | Flowers, Dawson (1-1) | None | | 189 | 4–11 | |
| Mar 10 | at Little Rock* | Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR | 2–4 | BREWER, Hoss (1-2) | Marionneaux, Dylan (0-3) | WEATHERLEY, Jacob (3) | | 195 | 4–12 | |
| Mar 12 | Louisiana Tech* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 11–5 | Anderson, Austin (2-0) | Smith,Reed (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 933 | 5–12 | |
| Mar 15 | at Louisiana Tech* | J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA | 9–11 | Hubka,Grant (1-0) | Alexis, Adam (0-2) | Bates,Ethan (4) | ESPN+ | 1,813 | 5–13 | |
| Mar 16 | at Louisiana Tech* | J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA | 5–7 | Nation,Connor (1-0) | Newton, Aidan (0-2) | Bates,Ethan (5) | ESPN+ | 2,046 | 5–14 | |
| Mar 17 | at Louisiana Tech* | J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA | 5–15 (8 inn) | Swistak,Turner (3-0) | Marionneaux, Dylan (0-4) | None | ESPN+ | 1,906 | 5–15 | |
| Mar 20 | at Sam Houston* | Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX | 2–5 | Chandler David (2-3) | Bryce Leonard (0-2) | Wyatt Tucker (3) | | | 5–16 | |
| Mar 22 | Southeastern Louisiana | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 0–5 | Stuprich, Brennan (2-2) | Prestwich, Chase (2-3) | None | ESPN+ | 923 | 5–17 | 0–1 |
| Mar 23 | Southeastern Louisiana | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 5–8 | Lauve, Lance (1-0) | Bryan, Tyler (0-1) | Polk, Lakin (3) | ESPN+ | 843 | 5–18 | 0–2 |
| Mar 24 | Southeastern Louisiana | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 11–8 | Marionneaux, Dylan (1-4) | Kinzeler, Will (1-1) | Anderson, Austin (1) | ES collapsedPN+ | 783 | 6–18 | 1–2 |
| Mar 26 | Louisiana Christian* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 5–4 | Leonard, Bryce (1-2) | Coleman Haltom (0-0) | Bryan, Tyler (2) | ESPN+ | 654 | 7–18 | |
| Mar 28 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 2–8 | Cameron LeJeune (3-2) | Newton, Aidan (0-3) | Kainin Morrow (2) | None | | 7–19 | 1–3 |
| Mar 29 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 6–2 | Bunch, Caleb (1-0) | Daelan Caraway (1-1) | None | | 1,011 | 8–19 | 2–3 |
| Mar 30 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 10–4 | Marionneaux, Dylan (2-4) | Ty Abraham (1-2) | None | | 1,059 | 9–19 | 3–3 |
April (9–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr 2 | at Grambling* | Wilbert Ellis Field at Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones Park • Grambling, LA | 4–1 | Robinson, Kevin (1-1) | Carlos Peguero (1-6) | Bryan, Tyler (3) | | 75 | 10–19 | |
| Apr 3 | Louisiana–Monroe* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 6–10 | Corley, Brandt (2-1) | Anderson, Austin (2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 435 | 10–20 | |
| Apr 5 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 11–4 | Prestwich, Chase (3-3) | Dove, Kendall (1-3) | Bunch, Caleb (2) | ESPN+ | 436 | 11–20 | 4–3 |
| Apr 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 4–5 | Hunsaker, Riley (4-2) | Flowers, Dawson (1-2) | Thornton, Maddox (5) | ESPN+ | 656 | 11–21 | 4–4 |
| Apr 7 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 2–7 | Garcia, Zach (3-0) | Marionneaux, Dylan (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 673 | 11–22 | 4–5 |
| Apr 9 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | Lou St. Amant Field • Monroe, LA | – | (-) | Postponed – Weather | | | | – | |
| Apr 12 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 7–5 | Bunch, Caleb (2-0) | Galy, G. (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 731 | 12–22 | 5–5 |
| Apr 13 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 11–10 | Newton, Aidan (1-3) | Desandro, D. (3-3) | Bryan, Tyler (4) | ESPN+ | 804 | 13–22 | 6–5 |
| Apr 14 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 5–13 | Quevedo, Michael (5-0) | Marionneaux, Dylan (2-6) | None | | 800 | 13–23 | 6–6 |
| Apr 16 | LSU–Alexandria* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 14–0 (7 inn) | Robinson, Kevin (2-1) | Dominic Thibodeaux (0-0) | None | ESPN+ | 633 | 14–23 | |
| Apr 19 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 3–6 | Davis, D (1-0) | Prestwich, Chase (3-4) | Byrd, A (2) | ESPN+ | 75 | 14–24 | 6–7 |
| Apr 20 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 6–10 | Zavala, Isaiah (4-3) | Marquez, Alejandro (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 84 | 14–25 | 6–8 |
| Apr 21 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | 0–5 | Hargett, H (2-0) | Flowers, Dawson (1-3) | Johnson, D (1) | ESPN+ | 94 | 14–26 | 6–9 |
| Apr 23 | Grambling* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 16–8 | Robinson, Kevin (3-1) | C. Jackson (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 545 | 15–26 | |
| Apr 26 | Houston Christian | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 11–5 | Prestwich, Chase (4-4) | Edwards, Parker (4-5) | Marquez, Alejandro (1) | ESPN+ | 672 | 16–26 | 7–9 |
| Apr 27 | Houston Christian | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 5–2 | Bryan, Tyler (1-1) | Gunter, Rye (2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 737 | 17–26 | 8–9 |
| Apr 28 | Houston Christian | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 14–4 (7 inn) | Flowers, Dawson (2-3) | Hamilton, Jackson (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 762 | 18–26 | 9–9 |
May (4–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record collapsed | SLC Record |
| May 3 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | 4–8 | Caple, Brooks (6-3) | Prestwich, Chase (4-5) | None | ESPN+ | 1,493 | 18–27 | 9–10 |
| May 4 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | 2–0 | Newton, Aidan (2-3) | Ellis, Jacob (7-1) | Bunch, Caleb (3) | ESPN+ | 2,162 | 19–27 | 10–10 |
| May 5 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | 1–7 | Hesseltine, Hunter (6-1) | Flowers, Dawson (2-4) | Cleveland, Jackson (4) | ESPN+ | 1,623 | 19–28 | 10–11 |
| May 7 | at LSU* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Fieldk • Baton Rouge, LA | 5–6 | Gavin Guidry (2-0) | Bunch, Caleb (2-1) | None | SECN+ | 10,107 | 19–29 | |
| May 10 | New Orleans | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 15–18 | Mercer, Colton (6-4) | Prestwich, Chase (4-6) | None | ESPN+ | 336 | 19–30 | 10–12 |
| May 11 | New Orleans | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 6–14 | Edwards, Grant (5-4) | Bryan, Tyler (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 412 | 19–31 | 10–13 |
| May 13 | New Orleans | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 13–2 (7 inn) | Flowers, Dawson (3-4) | Dennis, Cortez (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 433 | 20–31 | 11–13 |
| May 16 | Stephen F. Austin* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | | | Cancelled | | | | | |
| May 17 | Stephen F. Austin* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 14–11 | Flowers, Dawson (4-4) | Dylan Mulcahy (1-2) | Bunch, Caleb (4) | ESPN+ | 783 | 21–31 | |
| May 18 | Stephen F. Austin* | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | 12–2 (7 inn) | Leonard, Bryce (2-2) | Caleb Rutledge (1-4) | None | ESPN+ | 837 | 22–31 | |
Post-season (0–2) :
Southland Tournament (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 22 | vs. (5) McNeese | (4) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 5–10 | Zach Voss(2-5) | Bryan, Tyler(1-3) | None | ESPN+ | | 22–32 | 0–1 |
| May 23 | vs. (1) Lamar | (4) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 5–12 | Ellis, Jacob(8-1) | Flowers, Dawson(4-5) | None | ESPN+ | | 22–33 | 0–2 |
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Canceled Bold = Northwestern State team member Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Schedule Source: :