NATCHITOCHES, La. -- The University of North Alabama let a 3-0 lead slip away in the final innings of the opener and then managed just two hits in the nightcap as the Lions dropped a pair of game at Northwestern State, 4-3 and 5-0.

UNA, now 1-6 overall, will play the final game of the four-game set with Demons on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Northwestern State improved to 5-1 with the sweep.

UNA held a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning of the opener but the Demons rallied for a 4-3 win, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Jacob Laws started and allowed no runs on four hits over six innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Bryant Claunch then came on to pitch the remainder of the game but could not hold the lead.

UNA's only runs of the game came in the third inning. Reid Homan reached on an error and Ben Kiefer singled. After a double steal, Homan scored on a wild pitch. Colt Chrestman and Harris Kain drew walks to load the bases and Peyton Thomas drove in two runs with a two-out single to make it 3-0.

The Lions had another scoring opportunity in the eighth when Thomas walked and was sacrificed to second. He then tried to score on a single by Homan to right field but was thrown out at the plate.

The Demons got a run in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back doubles off Claunch to make it 3-1.

In the ninth, Northwestern State got four singles that the Demons turned into three runs to take the 4-3 win. UNA was only able to record one out in the inning.

Claunch (0-1) took the loss.

The Demons scored three runs in the first inning of the nightcap off UNA starter Chase Best, then added two insurance runs in the seventh off reliever Jacob James.

Tate Mathis and Kain provided UNA's only two hits in the contest.

Best falls to 1-1 with the loss. He pitched six innings and scattered seven hits.