Box Score NATCHITOCHES – Home runs from Micayla Sorosiak and Natalie Landry aided the Northwestern State softball team in a 9-0, five-inning, victory over Mississippi Valley State Friday night in its home opener at the Lady Demon Softball Complex.
 
" We started off a little flat, but quickly got things moving in the third inning," said sixth-year head coach Donald Pickett. "A win like this is something that we needed, as a team, after a rough weekend in Troy."
 
With the win, the Lady Demons improve to 2-4 overall as the Devilettes drop to 1-5.
 
Sorosiak kicked off scoring in the third with one out as she cranked her first home run of the season over the center field fence. Brianna Rodriguez was called next, but flew out to right field to bring up designated player Cassandra Barefield. The Houston, Texas, native was walked and was later pushed home as Kellye Kincannon sent a shot to left field. Landry flew out to center field, but redeemed herself in the fourth.
 
Junior Brittany Virgoe stepped to the plate in the fourth with one out and runners on the corners. The Esperanza High School product got on base as she sent a hard shot back to pitcher Cassandra Rivera, who made a throwing error, and allowed Virgoe to advance to second. Kayla Boening scored the unearned run as Cali Burke made her way to third.
 
Sorosiak was up next and struck out swinging to bring up Rodriguez, who doubled to right field and sent Burke and Virgoe home, giving the Lady Demons a 5-0 lead.
 
With two outs, Barefield reached first on an error from shortstop Brandi Williams, allowing Rodriguez to score.
 
Kincannon was hit by a pitch to send Barefield to second and draw up Landry, who notched her first home run of the season with a shot to left center and put NSU up 9-0.
 
Freshman Shelby Sells (2-0) picked up her second win of the season from the circle in four solid innings as she allowed just three hits and struck out five. Senior Kaylee Guidry threw the fifth and final inning to complete the game.
 
From the plate, Rodriguez led with a two-for-three performance and two RBI, followed by Landry in a one-for-two outing and three RBI.
 
The Lady Demons square off with MVSU again on Saturday in a pair of games set to begin at one o'clock.