Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TROY, Ala. – Homeruns from Kellye Kincannon and Brittany Virgoe allowed the Northwestern State softball team to split a pair of games on Friday at the Troy Subway Invitational, falling to North Florida 2-1 in eight innings, and later toppling over the host Trojans in a 7-1 showing.
 
The Lady Demons register a 1-1 overall record as the Trojans move to 0-1-1.
 
"I'm impressed with the showing we had today," said sixth year head coach Donald Pickett. "We almost pulled out two wins against two competitive teams, which goes to show the amount of talent we have with us right now. We're excited to see what the rest of the weekend brings."
 
Kincannon sent two flying over the fence, first in the second inning and again in the third. Following Kincannon in the second, the Lady Demons loaded the bases and brought up Tara McKenney, who reached first on an error and allowed Micayla Sorosiak to score. Virgoe stepped up and grounded out to shortstop, but not before Cheyenne DelaGarza picked up the unearned run to give NSU a 3-1 lead.
 
In the third, Cassandra Barefield singled through the right side and advanced to second on a sacrifice but from Cali Burke. Kincannon stepped up and hit a shot over the left field wall to send Barefield and herself home.
 
The Lady Demons added insurance runs in the fourth and fifth on errors and held Troy to just one notch on the board the entire evening as Erica Davis smacked a home run to left field early in the first inning.
 
Freshman Shelby Sells (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win, throwing seven complete innings, allowing three hits and striking out 10.
 
Against North Florida, Virgoe picked up where she left off in last season's Southland Conference Tournament title game to put the Lady Demons (0-1) on the board and tie the game at one a piece with the Ospreys (1-0).
 
UNF got on the board right from the start as leadoff hitter Danica Mandarano doubled to right center, and later scored on a double to left center from Mariah Reynolds.
 
The Lady Demons were able to hold UNF scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings to force extra play. At the start of the eighth inning, Brittney Jones was placed on second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from DelaGarza to bring up Shenequia Abby.
 
Abby stepped up to the plate as Tashana Triplett came in to pinch run for Jones. Abby singled to second in hopes of advancing Triplett, but the Winnfield native was thrown out at home. McKenney grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.
 
The Ospreys placed Reynolds on second in the bottom of the eighth, who advanced to third on a sacrifice but. Reynolds later scored on a wild pitch to end the game.
 
The Lady Demons had opportunities throughout the game as three different players were walked, but were unable to score.
 
Senior Kaylee Guidry earned the start from the circle and threw four solid innings, allowing five hits and one run, while striking out three and walking two.  
 
Freshman Skylar Cagle (0-1) made her first appearance as a Lady Demon as she recorded 3.1 innings, striking out four and allowing just two hits and one run.
 
Northwestern State takes on the Ospreys once again at 11:00 Saturday morning, followed by a 2:30 showdown with No. 6 Alabama. The Lady Demons complete tournament play on Sunday with a noon meeting with Middle Tennessee State.