Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – The Northwestern State softball team dropped the opening two games of the Arkansas Fastpitch Invitational on Friday, falling to Jackson State 4-1 and Arkansas 10-7 at Bogle Park.

 

Cassandra Barefield continued her hot streak at the plate, posting at least two hits in both games for her third and fourth multi-hit games of the season. She finished 5-for-6 on the day with a double and a pair of runs scored between the two games. She also extended her hitting streak to four games, and propelled her batting average up to .367.

 

Arkansas 10, Northwestern State 7

 

NSU (2-10) fell behind Arkansas (7-3) 3-0 early in the game before the bats really came to life. An explosive offensive fourth inning ended with NSU ahead, 6-3. Though, the Razorbacks did not go away, and after taking the lead 7-6 in the fifth inning, a three-run sixth put the game out of reach.

 

Kelee Grimes (1-4) pitched 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Brooke Boening (0-1) suffered the loss for NSU, while Ciara Clampitt (2-0) earned the win after pitching 3.1 innings of relief with an earned run.

 

After Arkansas scored three runs in the first inning, NSU loaded up the bases in the third when Barefield reached on an error, Cali Burke walked and Tara McKenney beat out an infield single. Blair Beard came through with a 2 RBI bloop single to leftfield to cut the deficit to 3-2.

 

The Lady Demons filled the bases yet again in the fourth inning when Brianna Rodriguez singled, Barefield doubled to the wall in centerfield and Burke walked. With two outs, McKenney blasted a huge base clearing double to deep leftfield to give NSU the 5-3 lead. Next up, Beard knocked one to leftfield and McKenney scored to extend the lead to 6-3.

 

Arkansas came back in the bottom of the inning and tied it, 6-6, when two singles led to back-to-back doubles by Amanda Geile and Jennifer Rambo. The Razorbacks took the lead in the fifth inning on a RBI single by Devon Wallace.

 

Barefield started the sixth with a single, and was replaced by Shenequia Abby to pitch run. Abby advanced to third after a bunt and ground out, and scored to even it, 7-7, when McKenney reached on an error at first base.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, a pair of singles and a walk loaded up the bases for Arkansas with one out. Clarisa Navarro hit the decisive 3-RBI triple to secure the lead, 10-7.

 

Jackson State 4, Northwestern State 1

 

In the first game of the day, NSU tallied seven hits and had a few good opportunities to push runs across, but just couldn't get enough big swings in key situations against the Tigers (7-4). Kylie Roos (1-5) pitched a complete game, striking out seven but surrendered four earned runs. Breea Anderson (4-1) earned the win for JSU.

 

The Lady Demons scored in the fourth inning on a RBI single by Candice Biggs. NSU had the bases loaded after Roos walked, Rodriguez reached on an error and Barefield singled. Biggs beat out an infield single towards the second baseman to bring home Roos.

 

NSU had an early chance to score when Brittany Virgoe doubled to rightfield and both Sam Roberts and Roos walked to load the bases in the first inning with two outs. Anderson forced the next batter to ground out to third base.

 

In the final frame, the Lady Demons had runners on the corners when McKenney singled, advanced to third on two ground outs and Roberts walked. Though, Anderson was able to get the final batter to ground out to second base.

 

The Tigers built an early lead when two singles, a walk and a Tayler Nave double accounted for three runs in the first inning. JSU added on an insurance run in the sixth on a walk, single and fielding error.

 

NSU will be back in action Saturday with a 9 a.m. game against Tennessee State. The Lady Demons will play another game later that day, but the time and opponent are still to be determined based on the results of all the games.