Box Score

MONROE – Kelee Grimes went the distance and struck out 14 batters as the Northwestern State softball team picked up its first win of the season, defeating IUPUI 4-1 Saturday night in its third game of the ULM Mardi Gras Classic.

 

“We came into the tournament putting a little too much pressure on ourselves and we were trying to do too much, but tonight we just relaxed and trusted our abilities. When we do that, we're a good ball club,” said head coach Donald Pickett.

 

Grimes (1-0) recorded the final four outs of the game all via strikeout, as she let up just three hits in seven innings and earned the win for NSU (1-2). Samantha Bumaugh (0-1) suffered the loss for IUPUI (2-1).

 

“Kelee definitely looked more relaxed in this game. She just went out there, trusted her stuff and pitched a great game for us,” Pickett said.

 

The Lady Demons scored twice in the 2nd inning by playing small ball, and then picked up insurance runs in the 5th and 7th to create some distance.

 

NSU outhit the Jaguars 7-3, as Tara McKenney and Samantha Roberts each picked up a pair of hits. Brittany Virgoe reached base safely for the third consecutive game after getting plunked by a pitch in the 7th.

 

In the 2nd inning, Roberts reached base with a leadoff walk, and advanced to third on an infield single by McKenney on a throwing error. With runners on second and third, Kylie Roos legged out a RBI bunt single to put NSU on the board first. Barefield then picked up a RBI on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0 NSU.

 

The Jaguars cut the lead in half in the 3rd inning when a baserunner came around to score on a two-base wild pitch with two outs – 2-1 NSU.

 

Blair Beard got the bats going again in the 5th with a one out double, and advanced to third on a single up the middle by Jordan Palmer. Beard came in to score on a sac fly to center by Cali Burke – 3-1 NSU.

 

Beard again set the table in the 7th with a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Palmer. Then, after stealing third, Beard came in to score on a passed ball to extend the lead to 4-1.

 

Grimes then shut the door in the seventh, solidifying the first Lady Demon win of the season.

 

“The big thing for us tomorrow will be keeping the momentum,” Pickett said. “We're a good team, and now that we have this first win under our belt we can relax more and just go out and play,”

 

NSU will finish out the ULM Mardi Gras Classic on Sunday with an 11 a.m. game against Southeast Missouri State and a 3 p.m. affair with Grambling State.