Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Despite single home runs in two games from Cassandra Barefield, the Northwestern State softball team split a pair of games at the Frost Classic on Friday, defeating Butler 5-1 and later falling to Tennessee-Chattanooga 5-2 at Frost Stadium.

The Lady Demons now hold a 5-6 overall record, while Butler drops to 2-7 and the Mocs improve to 5-6.

"We had a good performance earlier in the day, but tonight's game was a struggle," said sixth-year head coach Donald Pickett. "We had a lot of opportunities to score throughout the game, but couldn't seem to make it happen."

UTC put two runs up in the first off a two-run homer from Criket Blanco to take an early lead.

The Lady Demons then tied the game at two in the top of the third as Barefield dished out her fifth home run of the season to right center with a runner on second.

The Mocs answered with two more runs in the bottom of the third as Blanco grounded out to third with the bases loaded and allowed one run to score. UTC sealed the win in the bottom of the fourth in another bases-loaded situation when Alyssa Taylor picked up her only RBI of the game on a shot to shortstop Tara McKenney, pushing the runner at third to the plate.

Northwestern State had a chance in the fifth to combat the deficit with a bases-loaded situation, but pitcher Katie Henderson caught freshman Brittney Jones looking to end the inning.

Freshman Shelby Sells (2-1) suffered her first loss of the season as she allowed six hits and struck out five in six complete innings in the circle.

Earlier on Friday, sophomore Natalie Landry cranked her second career grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning against Butler to give the Lady Demons a four-run edge over the Bulldogs. With the scored tied at one, Brianna Rodriguez reached first on an error and was pushed to second on a single from Barefield. Both runners advanced a base as Brittney Jones was walked to bring up Landry. The Denham Springs High School product rocked a shot directly to center field to give NSU a 5-1 lead and the eventual win.

Freshman Skylar Cagle (2-3) also played a big part in the win, striking out a season-high nine batters in her first complete game. The Pilot Point, Texas, native allowed five hits and one run in seven innings in the circle.

Butler picked up its only run in the top of the second off a RBI single from Brandyce Sallee. The Lady Demons answered in their next at-bat as Barefield kicked off the inning with a homer to left field.

Barefield led from the plate, going four-for-six on the day with three RBI, followed by Landry with a two-for-six performance and four RBI.

Northwestern State will tackle day two of the Frost Classic on Saturday with Middle Tennessee State at 11:00 and Tennessee Tech at four o'clock, both at Frost Stadium.