Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas – Strong pitching and timely hitting was the recipe for success for the Northwestern State softball team as they swept Houston Baptist in a doubleheader, 4-3 and 3-1, Wednesday at Husky Field.

 

Cassandra Barefield blasted a two-run homer in the second game, and that's all Kelee Grimes (3-4) needed to pick up the win for NSU (5-12). Barefield also recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season with three hits.

 

“Cassandra got a good pitch to drive and capitalized on it,” head coach Donald Pickett said on the home run. “It was a big hit because it gets us on the scoreboard with an early lead. Cassandra is a big part of our lineup and she's seeing the ball really well right now.”

 

Grimes followed up Sunday's no-hitter with a complete game, seven-strikeout performance to keep the HBU (4-5) bats quiet. Keely Shuler (1-1) took the loss for the Huskies after allowing seven hits in 3.2 innings.

 

“Kelee is doing all the little things right now. She's getting ahead in the count and really controlling all of the at-bats,” Pickett said. “When she's working ahead, she really becomes a great pitcher.”

 

Tara McKenney also registered three hits in the game with a trio of singles. It marked her sixth multi-hit game on the year to lead the team in that category.

 

In the third inning, Sam Roberts drew a two-out walk, which led to Barefield's big homer. The Lady Demons scored again in the fourth when Brianna Rodriguez doubled to right center, and McKenney followed with a RBI single to leftfield.

 

In the first game, Brooke Boening (1-1) came in and slammed the door shut on the Huskies, pitching five innings of scoreless relief and earning the win. Cheyenne DeLaGarza knocked the go-ahead hit in the fifth inning when her RBI single broke a 3-3 tie and ultimately won the game for NSU.

 

“Brooke is getting better and better every time she takes the ball. She did a really good job of keeping hitters off-balance, and keeping us in the game,” Pickett said.  “When we get really good pitching like we did today, we're going to be a tough team to beat.”

 

The Lady Demons had two runners on base in the fifth when Tiffany Ward singled up the middle and Barefield walked. With two outs, DeLaGarza punched a single to rightfield to give NSU the 4-3 edge.

 

In the second inning, the Lady Demons put runners on first and second after a walk and error started the frame. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, BRodriguez came through with a two-RBI single to capture the 2-1 lead. Next up, Cali Burke ripped a RBI double to left center to score Rodriguez and increase the lead to 3-1.

 

The Huskies scored the initial run of the game in the first inning when a walk and single led to a one out RBI single down the rightfield line by Melissa Herman.

 

HBU loaded up the bases with one out in the second inning and scored on a two-RBI single down the rightfield line by Callie Herrington to tie the game, 3-3.

 

That was all the Huskies could get, as Boening relieved Kylie Roos and let up just two hits the rest of the way. Kendall Stiefel (2-2) pitched the whole game for HBU and took the loss.

 

The teams were even with seven hits each. The Lady Demons hits came from seven different players.

 

In the later game, the Huskies scored their lone run in the third when Victoria Granchelli hit a triple to leftfield and scored on a sacrifice bunt play.

Up next, The Lady Demons will play their home opener on Saturday at 11 a.m. against UL-Monroe in the first of six games of the NSU Lady Demon Invitational. NSU will also be hosting Southern University.