Box Score

NATCHITOCHES – Blair Beard hit her first home run of the year to extend her hitting streak to 10 games, but the Northwestern State softball team fell 7-3 to McNeese State Friday night at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.

 

Beard ripped a solo shot in the fifth inning over the rightfield wall for NSU (12-17, 1-2 SLC) and singled in the seventh to record her eighth multi-hit game of the season. She also made an outstanding diving catch in the seventh to rob McNeese State's (18-8, 3-0 SLC) Kim Kennedy of an extra-base hit.

 

The Cowgirls struck early with three runs in the first inning, and added on with one in the third, two in the fifth and one in the sixth. Clean-up hitter Marissa Koetting highlighted the offense and finished two-for-four with a single, double and four-RBI.

 

Meagan Bond (11-6) picked up the win for the Cowgirls, striking out eight hitters in six innings and allowing three earned runs. Brooke Boening (3-2) pitched an inning and took the loss the NSU, while Kylie Roos fired four strikeouts in four innings and let up just one earned run.

 

The Lady Demons scored twice in the first inning on a two-out rally. Brianna Rodriguez started it with a single to rightfield, and scored on a RBI double to centerfield by Roos. Samantha Roberts followed with a RBI double down the rightfield line to score Roos, and cut the early deficit to 3-2.

 

Rodriguez later doubled to rightfield to pick up her fifth multi-hit game of the year. Cali Burke singled in the sixth inning and also walked in the first to raise her on-base percentage to .403

 

NSU will look to even the series on Saturday, as the teams meet again at 1 p.m. at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.