The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DAUNTE Stuart continues his torrid start to his sophomore and his recent streak at the plate has placed him at the top of several stat categories for the Northwestern State Demons.

Stuart finished last weekend’s three-game series against the Austin Peay Governors hitting .500 (4-8), with a double, two home runs, seven walks, and seven RBIs).

Stuart has now homered in three of his last four games.

The only player to start all 10 games for the Demons, Stuart leads the team in home runs (thee), doubles (three), hits (12), runs (six), RBI (10), total bases (24), slugging percentage (.706) and OPS (1.194).

After an 0-4 start in the season opener, Stuart is now in the midst of a nine-game hit streak.

“It’s amazing,” Stuart said. “I’m just thankful I can produce for my team. Whenever I don’t hit a home run or a double, they drive me in, and that’s what we’re all about.”

Northwestern State took a 2-1 win in the series to improve to 5-5 on the season.

In game one, Stuart helped the Demons take an 8-0 lead after three innings en route to a 10-8 win.

He homered in the third inning which highlighted a 2-2 night. He reached base five times and drew a career-high three walks with two RBI.

In game two, Stuart homered for the third straight game – this one a three-run shot to left-centre field in the Demons’ 4-0 win.

Stuart finished 1-3 with a pair of intentional walks – both coming with two outs and nobody on base.

Austin Peay took game three, 3-2, but Stuart continued his production.

In the third inning, Stuart ripped a two-run double to left-center field to tie the game, 2-2.

“He’s on fire,” Northwestern State head coach Bobby Barbier said.

“He’s swinging the bat great. If I’m them, I probably don’t pitch to him either. They had some spots where they didn’t have to.”

Stuart looks to continue his streak this weekend as Northwestern State hosts Incarnate Word in a four-game series that begins on March 12.

In the Southland Conference, the Demons were picked to finish fifth in the league’s preseason poll.

They went 12-4 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and were 2-1 in their lone Southland Conference series, taking two of three from Abilene Christian.

Stuart started all 16 games at second base last year as a true freshman.

He was one of three Demons to swipe three bases and finished third on the team in batting average with .281.

He went on a nine game hit streak from February 16 - March 1 and doubled in three straight games from February 26-29.