By: Robbie Kleinmuntz, Softball SID
Box Score
NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State dropped a 7-1 affair to first-place Texas State in Southland Conference softball action Saturday on Senior Day at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.
Tara McKenney registered her third consecutive multi-hit game, going two-for-three with a double. On the series, she finished four-for-six with a pair of doubles to propel the NSU (19-28, 7-13 SLC) offense.
The Lady Demons scored in the third inning when McKenney's two-bagger brought in Tiffany Ward after an error. The senior from Bulverde, Texas and Smithson Valley HS led off the inning by reaching on an error. McKenney then roped a ball over the leftfielder's head, and the throw back into the infield skipped away from the Texas State (33-15, 16-2 SLC) third baseman into the dugout which allowed Ward to score.
On defense, NSU turned a pair of double plays to get out of jams. The Bobcats threatened with runners on first and third with one out in the second inning when the Lady Demons turned a very nice 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.
NSU turned another double play in the sixth when Texas State's Haley Lemons hit a ball sharply to center field with a runner on third and one out. Blair Beard caught it and doubled up the runner who took off immediately for home plate.
Senior Kelee Grimes (6-9) started for NSU and took the loss after pitching an inning. Brooke Boening allowed two earned runs in four innings of relief, and Sara Aasness also pitched two frames out of the bullpen.
Anne Marie Taylor (14-8) tossed a complete-game for Texas State and earned the win after striking out five and not allowing an earned run.
The Bobcats scored one in the first inning, three in the second, and one in the fifth, sixth and seventh. Selena Hernandez highlighted the lineup with a three-for-four day with a walk, two-RBI and a run scored.
NSU has completed its home and conference portion of the schedule, and will be back in action on Wednesday with a non-conference matchup against Louisiana Tech at 6.
Senior Day Notes
Kelee Grimes, a right-hander from Pineville and Pineville HS, was accompanied by her parents Floyd and Anita Grimes, and her fiancé Mike.
In her career, she has thrown two no-hitters, combined for a no-hitter and ranks third in NSU history in career strikeouts with 471. She leads the team in strikeouts this season with 107 and registered a career-high 14 K's in a 4-1 victory over IUPUI on Feb. 11.
Grimes is a two-time SLC Pitcher of the Week winner and also won LSWA Pitcher of the Week this season on March 8. Last season, the right-hander was named to the 2011 All-SLC Second-Team, SLC All-Academic Team, All-Louisiana Collegiate Softball Team and Capital One All-Academic District VI Team. She finished 2011 ranked 18th nationally with a 1.40 ERA and helped NSU become the No. 1 rotation in the conference with a 2.09 team ERA. In 2010, she earned a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VI Second-Team.
Grimes will graduate in the spring Magna Cum Laude and on the President's list with a 3.86 GPA. As an undergrad, she served as President of the Blue Key Honor Society, Vice President Student Athlete Advisory Committee, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society and Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society. Grimes will enroll in the NSU Sports Administration program in the fall while pursuing a career in Academic Services.
Samantha Roberts, a left fielder and southpaw slugger from Natchitoches and Ruston HS, was joined by her parents Lynne and Danny Roberts, and sisters Kristin and Jamie.
As a Lady Demon, Roberts has hit 15 career homers, including a team-high seven this season. She became the first Lady Demon in program history to hit three home runs in a single game, as she registered six-RBI in the 16-6 win over Jackson State on March 20. She posted a team-high 10-game hitting streak earlier this season and has a pair of three-hit performances.
In 2011, Roberts earned SLC Hitter of the Week in 2011 when she posted a .615 batting average with eight hits. In 2010, Roberts won All-Louisiana Collegiate Softball First-Team and All-SLC Conference Third-Team. She finished the season with a .333 batting average while grabbing a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VI Second-Team. Roberts also earned Academic All-SLC First-Team while making Dean's List with a 3.5 GPA.
Roberts has started 180 career games with 32 doubles and 86 RBI. She will graduate in December with a degree in Health and Exercise Science and will intern at Wheat Physical Therapy in Natchitoches.
Tiffany Ward, an always reliable third baseman from Bulverde, Texas and Smithson Valley HS, was accompanied by her parents West and Tammy Ward, and her brother West.
This season, Ward has committed just three errors in the field and boasts a .955 career fielding percentage at one of the toughest positions on the diamond. She hit a big two-run homer in NSU's 10-1 victory over Grambling State on Feb. 12.
In 2010, Ward finished three-for-three against Nicholls State, driving in a career-high four RBI. In 2009, she left her mark against nationally ranked Alabama in her second career game when she went two-for-three at the plate with a run and RBI.
Ward has started 159 career games, hit five homers, 12 doubles and 43 RBI. She will graduate from NSU in December with a Pre-Physical Therapy degree and will be interning in the fall at Smithson Valley Physical Therapy. She has studied for a 3.5 GPA, qualifying her for Dean's List.
