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NATCHITOCHES – Tara McKenney's two-run RBI single up the middle propelled the Northwestern State softball team to a 4-3 victory over Nicholls State in game two of the three-game
Southland Conference series Saturday afternoon. The Lady Demons fell to Nicholls in game one 6-4.

“We bounced back quickly after the loss to pull out the win,” said head coach Donald Pickett. “The entire team put in a lot of effort into today's games.”

NSU improves to 19-6 overall, 1-3 in the Southland to tie last years overall wins, as Nicholls falls to 10-15 overall, 2-3 in conference play.

Cheyenne DelaGarza, Jordan Palmer and Shenequia Abby loaded up the bases in the bottom of the sixth to allow McKenney to rip one up the middle, scoring DelaGarza and Palmer to give the Lady Demons the 4-3 lead.

After three scoreless innings to begin the game, NSU got on the board in the fourth when senior Kylie Roos laid down a SAC bunt to score Cassandra Barefield, followed by Abby singling up the middle to push Natalie Landry home.

The Colonels picked up runs in the fifth and sixth off of a RBI single by Brittany Marcet and a two-run homer by Morgan Wilson.

Junior Kaylee Guidry (5-1) threw seven complete innings to earn the win, striking out three and allowing 13 hits.

In game one, DelaGarza kick-started a powerful fifth inning for the Lady Demons as she was hit by a pitch. NSU eventually loaded up the bases and grabbed three runs off of a RBI single to left field from Cali Burke, and a two RBI single up the middle by Brianna Rodriguez.

The Lady Demons held the Colonels from scoring throughout the remainder of the game, but were unable to grab any more runs.

McKenney kept her lead on Southland Conference triples as she lead off the first inning with a triple to left field, her fifth this season.

Senior Brooke Boening (5-5) came in for relief of Roos early in the first as they combined to allow four hits and six runs while striking out five.

Freshman Baylee Gray stepped into the circle in the fifth to allow one hit.

McKenney led from the plate as she went three-for-eight, collecting two RBI and two runs on the day.

Abby went three-for-five on the day as she posted one run and one RBI, followed by Palmer going two-for-five as she crossed the plate twice.

The Lady Demons finish up series play with the Colonels on Sunday beginning at one o'clock. NSU hosts Jackson State on Wednesday at 5:00 before hitting the road to Texas A&M – Corpus Christi next Saturday.