By Brad Welborn, Northwestern State Assistant Sports Information Director; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
LAKE CHARLES –Northwestern State got the go-ahead run on base in each of the final two innings of the series opener at McNeese, but were unable to bring it around in a 6-4 loss to the Cowgirls on Friday nigh.
The Demons (3-22, 0-4) loaded the bases with one out in both the sixth and seventh innings of the game but were only able to manage a 1-for-4 effort in those situations leaving the bags full as the inning ended both times.
Northwestern left 12 total runners on base as they littered 10 hits and five walks across seven innings against McNeese (15-13, 2-2) in the game.
A walk and a single in the first gave NSU an early run-scoring chance and two more walks in the second presented another, but a pair of fly ball outs and a grounder to short left all four runners on the bases through the first two innings.
McNeese also got a pair of runners on base in the first two innings, but were able to cash in their chance in the second to take the early lead. An RBI single up the middle put them up 1-0. They turned a pair of free passes in the fourth into two more runs with a sacrifice fly and two-out double stretching the lead to three after four innings of play.
A leadoff double from former Benton standout Sophia Livers led to the Demons’ first run thanks to a pair of productive outs. She moved to third on a ground out to the right side and scored on a Peyton Peck sacrifice fly to center to get NSU on the board.
The Cowgirls responded with a leadoff double of their own and followed suit with a sac fly to center to get the run back. They added to their lead with a double to left center stretching the lead to four at 5-1 through five innings.
Northwestern rallied in the next half inning to close the gap.
Three straight base hits from DJ Lynch, Carissa Hernandez and Aly Delafield loaded the bases with one out. On the second pitch she saw, Camyrn Becnel lined a ball down the left field line for a two-run double, pulling the Demons within a pair.
After a pop up to second gave the Cowgirls the second out of the inning, Bailie Ragsdale put the ball in play and was able to reach on a fielder’s choice that also allowed Delafield to score from third on the play. Peck drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for a second time in the inning, but a strikeout left the tying and go-ahead run stranded in scoring position.
An RBI single in the bottom of the inning provided an insurance run for the Cowgirls.
The Demons got the first two batters aboard to begin the seventh with a walk and base hit to left. An infield single from Delafield two batters later put the tying run at second base. The rally died there however as consecutive fly ball outs ended the game in NSU’s seventh loss this season by two runs or fewer.
Lynch finished the night with a pair of hits and a walk and Delafield produced her first three-hit game of the season and reached base all four times she stepped to the plate.
The Demons and Cowgirls close the series on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.