The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE NCAA Division I baseball season is officially underway and All-Southland Conference selection Daunte Stuart got off to a promising start on opening weekend.

Stuart and his Northwestern State Demons emerged with a 2-1 series win over the Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks and thanks to his late game heroics in the series finale.

Stuart delivered the go ahead RBI double in the eighth inning of the Demons’ 5-4 win over the Lumberjacks Sunday at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

The preseason All-Southland Conference first team selection finished 3-5 with two RBI.

“The guy was a really good pitcher so I was just doing the best I could to stay in the at bat. The stolen base just kind of happened on its own. I was just trying to stay in there, battle, and see what I could do to score a run because I knew we needed it,” Stuart said.

“I was just looking for a fastball there and do my best to adjust. He had some really good stuff, I knew I couldn’t make any mistakes while he was up there.”

The Lumberjacks took the series opener 7-3 on Friday before the Demons rebounded with a 6-2 win on Saturday and the win in the series finale.

For the second straight year and the third time since 2019, the Demons were in the “receiving votes” category of Collegiate Baseball magazine’s Fabulous 50 preseason poll.

Stuart is one of 22 lettermen set to return to the Demons’ roster this season and was named a preseason All-Southland Conference first team selection.

Stuart, a 5’11, 180-pound infielder, played last season predominantly at second base and was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine. He became the first position player in school history to win the award.He was also previously named to the Southland Conference second team when the league announced its annual awards.

Stuart was the Demons leader in batting average (.278), doubles (13), home runs (7), RBIs (30) and total bases (84). He drew more walks than any other player in the Southland Conference and ranked 16th in the nation with 44. His walk total ranks sixth in school single-season history, one away from moving him into a three-way tie for fourth place.