EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — Jacob LeBlanc delivered 3.2 hitless innings of relief to lift Northwestern State to a 6-5 win over Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Thursday afternoon in a Southland Conference game.

The Demons improved to 26-24 overall and completed a four-game season sweep of the Vaqueros, who fell to 25-28.

Northwestern State jumped ahead early, scoring twice in the first inning. After a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, Ethan Menard singled to right for the first run. J.T. Simonelli doubled to left center to bring home Menard for a 2-0 lead.

The Demons added three more in the second. With one out, Sam Ardoin hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left center. Menard later doubled to left, scoring another run to make it 5-0.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley answered in the bottom of the first. Rocco Garza Gongora led off with a ground-rule double, and Armani Raygoza doubled down the right field line to bring him in. Moomau doubled to right center to score Raygoza, trimming the deficit to 5-2.

The Vaqueros struck again in the third. Gongora doubled again, and after a walk, Ramirez singled through the left side to drive in two runs, pulling the home side within 5-4.

Northwestern State added a critical run in the fourth. White led off with a hit-by-pitch, advanced on a single by Leonard, and scored on a groundout by Marsala, making it 6-4.

From there, the game turned into a battle of bullpens. Northwestern State starter Dylan Marionneaux struggled with control, allowing four runs on five hits over four innings but striking out seven. LeBlanc entered in the fifth and shut down the Vaqueros, allowing no hits and striking out four over 3.2 innings. He did not allow a baserunner until the eighth, when a walk and a balk put a runner at second, but LeBlanc escaped without damage.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley mounted a final threat in the ninth. Wesley Marien relieved LeBlanc and gave up a double to Raygoza, who advanced to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly to center by Ramirez scored Raygoza, cutting the lead to 6-5. A walk put the tying run on base, but Marien got Villescas to ground out to second to end the game.

Offensively, Northwestern State collected 13 hits. Menard went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Simonelli added two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Ardoin drove in two with his home run. For Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Raygoza was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Gongora had two doubles and scored twice.

LeBlanc’s performance was particularly noteworthy given his recent outing at McNeese State on May 9, when he also threw 3.2 hitless innings but took a loss.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley reliever Colton Vercoe pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out five. Anthony Garcia worked two scoreless innings, allowing five hits.

The game was the fourth meeting between the teams this season. Northwestern State won all four, including a three-game sweep in early April in Edinburg.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas-Rio Grande Valley 7, Northwestern State 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Vaqueros a 56.40 percent probability to win.