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Natchitoches, La. – One week after pitching his first career complete game shutout, junior Mitchell Pitts nearly did it again on Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, La., as he led the Texas State baseball team to a 4-1 victory over Northwestern State in game two of the three-game set.

Pitts scattered nine Northwestern State hits over the first five innings before settling in and not allowing a hit after the fifth inning. The right hander allowed just a pair of base runners from the sixth inning on as he went the distance for the second game in a row. He finished the game with six strikeouts and just one walk in his nine innings on the mound, lowering his season ERA to 3.69 while improving to 5-0 this season.

Pitts performance helped earn the 399^th career victory for head coach Ty Harrington as the team improved to 24-14 overall and 14-6 in the Southland Conference.

Northwestern State starting pitcher Jacob Williford (1-4) lost for the fourth time this season as Northwestern State dropped to 15-25 overall and 5-15 in the SLC. Williford lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed three runs before exiting.

Four Bobcats had multi-hit games on Friday including Clint Vest who finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Casey Kalenkosky (2-for-5) added a pair of hits and two runs scored, while Andrew Stumph was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Batting in the leadoff spot, Joey Fuda went 2-for-5 with an RBI and his ninth stolen base of the season.

Making his first start of the season, freshman Cody Perkins took advantage of the opportunity in the second inning as he singled through the left side with one out for his first hit of the season. He moved to third on a single from Vest, and two batters later, Perkins came home on an infield single from Fuda to make the score 1-0 Texas State early. The Bobcats threatened to add more as they loaded the bases with one out, but Williford was able to escape without further damage after inducing a ground out and strikeout to get out of the inning.

Texas State was able to extend its lead to 3-0 after the top of the third inning when the Bobcats used three hits to score a pair of runs. Stumph and Kalenkosky began the inning with back-to-back singles, and two batters later, a wild pitch allowed Stumph to score from third. Perkins then drove in Kalenkosky with an RBI ground out to stake the Bobcats to a three-run advantage.

After Pitts held the home team scoreless through the first three innings, the Demons broke through with a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut their deficit to 3-1. The run stopped Pitts' streak of innings pitched without allowing a run at an impressive 14 innings dating back to the game against Houston Baptist on April 12.

Texas State would add another run in the top of the fifth for a 4-1 lead, and that would be more than enough for Pitts who would hold Northwestern State off the scoreboard the rest of the way.