Box Score

RUSTON – The Northwestern State softball team was one out away from victory Wednesday night when Louisiana Tech rallied for two runs in the ninth inning to win 4-3 at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

 

The Lady Demons (19-29) took the lead in the top of the frame, 3-2, on a clutch RBI single by senior Samantha Roberts. Blair Beard was placed on second base to start the frame as part of the extra-inning rule, and was brought home by Roberts' one-out liner up the middle.

 

In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Techster's (22-29) had a runner on third with two outs when Erin Kipp came through with a RBI single. Kipp then advanced to second base on a passed ball, and scored the game winning run on a walkoff single to right-center by Amanda Krueger on a 2-2 pitch.

 

Tara McKenney continued her tear at the plate for NSU by tallying her fourth consecutive multi-hit game. She finished three-for-four with a run and RBI to record her 19th multi-hit and sixth three-hit game of the season, both team-highs.

 

Her RBI came at a timely moment in the game for NSU as she knocked an infield single to score Shenequia Abby in the eighth inning to give the Lady Demons the 2-1 lead. Abby started the inning on second base in the extra-inning rule, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Palmer.  

 

The Lady Techsters tied it, 2-2 in the bottom half on a one-out RBI double by Melanie Goff, who finished the game two-for-four.

 

Both starting pitchers lasted the whole game, but LTU's Michelle Jones (14-13) picked up the win, while Kylie Roos (8-12) took the loss. Jones struck out three and allowed one earned run in nine innings, while Roos struck out four and surrendered two earned runs in 8.2 innings.

 

The Lady Demons scored the first run of the game in the first inning on a one-out RBI single by Roberts. McKenney led-off the contest with a single through the right side, and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt by Beard and single by Brianna Rodriguez. Roberts followed by bringing her in on a full-count.  

 

Roberts finished the game two-for-four to post her seventh multi-hit game of the season. Cali Burke also smashed a pair of hits to grab her 10th multi-gamer. The teams finished the contest even with eight hits apiece.

 

The Lady Demons will conclude the season on Saturday with a doubleheader at North Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the night cap will begin 30 minutes after the completion of game one.