FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Interstat) — Colin Fisher tossed four scoreless innings of relief and the Arkansas Razorbacks rallied from an early two-run deficit to defeat the Northwestern State Demons 5-2 on Wednesday evening at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks improved to 30-16 overall, while the Demons fell to 25-20. Arkansas outhit Northwestern State 11-5.

Northwestern State struck first in the top of the first inning. After a groundout, Balin Marsala III doubled to right field. Ethan Menard followed with a home run to left center, giving the Demons a 2-0 lead. The rally continued with a single and a stolen base, but a strikeout and groundout ended the inning.

Arkansas answered in the bottom of the second. Carter Rutenbar walked, advanced on a groundout, and then was erased on a fielder’s choice. After a single and another hit loaded the bases, a flyout brought the first out. Rutenbar then stepped to the plate with one out and delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Kuhio Aloy and cutting the deficit to 2-1. The inning ended with a strikeout.

The game settled into a pitchers’ duel through the middle innings. Fisher replaced starter Sam McGuire to begin the third inning and retired seven of the first eight batters he faced, allowing only a single. Meanwhile, Northwestern State’s bullpen held Arkansas in check. The Demons used four pitchers in the first four innings, with Caden Fiveash throwing 2.1 scoreless frames.

The Razorbacks tied the game in the fourth. Aloy singled to right center and Robinett singled to shortstop, putting runners at first and second with no outs. Fiveash entered and induced a sacrifice bunt that advanced both runners. Rutenbar then singled to left field, scoring Aloy and sending Robinett to third. The next batter reached on a fielder’s choice that cut down Robinett at the plate, and a strikeout ended the inning with the score tied 2-2.

Both teams failed to score in the fifth and sixth innings. Northwestern State threatened in the fifth when Leonard B. was hit by a pitch and later caught stealing. The Demons went down in order in the sixth.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the seventh. With the score still tied, Arkansas’s Nolan Kozeal led off with a single to center. After a flyout, Jack Ruiz walked, and Brennon Souza was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out. Henry Niu then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Kozeal and giving Arkansas a 3-2 lead. Aloy followed with a single through the left side, plating Ruiz and stretching the advantage to 4-2. A fielder’s choice ended the inning.

Arkansas added an insurance run in the eighth. With one out, Jayden Pompey singled to center. Rutenbar doubled to left center, sending Pompey to third. After a strikeout, Hunter Helfrick singled to left, scoring Pompey and advancing Rutenbar to third. Rutenbar was thrown out at home trying to score on the throw, but the run made it 5-2.

Northwestern State went quietly in the ninth. Pinch hitter Harrison singled with two outs, but Z. White lined out to shortstop to end the game.

Fisher earned the win with his strong relief outing. He worked four innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs while striking out three. He did not walk a batter. Fiveash also threw 2.1 hitless innings for the Demons, striking out one.

For Northwestern State, Menard drove in both runs with his first-inning homer. He finished 1-for-4. Marsala III went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Rutenbar led Arkansas with two RBIs and was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Aloy scored two runs and drove in one.

The game featured two sacrifice flies by Arkansas, one each by Rutenbar and Niu. The Razorbacks also turned a double play in the fourth.

Northwestern State’s staff used eight pitchers, while Arkansas used five. The Demons’ bullpen allowed three earned runs over the final three innings.

The two teams had met the previous afternoon, with Arkansas winning 9-0. Northwestern State entered the game having lost four of its previous five contests, while Arkansas had won three of its last four.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Arkansas 7, Northwestern State 3, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Razorbacks an 86.10 percent probability to win.