Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A huge four-run sixth-inning surge and 4-for-6 performance at the plate from senior Cali Burke allowed the Northwestern State softball team to split a pair of Southland Conference games with league rival Stephen F. Austin Sunday afternoon, taking game two 5-2 after falling 4-1 in the first contest at the SFA Softball Field.
 
With the split, the Lady Demons maintained their .500-record with a 13-13 overall mark, 5-3 in the Southland as the Ladyjacks fell to 13-15, 4-3.
 
"We're happy with the win in game two, but we just couldn't pull it off earlier in the day," said sixth-year head coach Donald Pickett. "We need to come out strong and bring home the victory tomorrow so we can keep this series-streak going."
 
Trailing by one in the sixth of game two, NSU loaded up the bases and picked up two runs off two straight walks, and a third after senior Tara McKenney singled through the right side, securing the RBI.
 
Burke stepped up next and sent a sacrifice fly to center to give NSU its fourth and final run of the inning.
 
The Lady Demons notched their first tally of the game in the fifth as Burke singled to left field with two runners on, sending one of them to the plate.
 
SFA held a 2-0 advantage after four complete innings, scoring early in the first and again in the fourth off two Lady Demon errors.
 
A solo home run in the third from Burke, her second in consecutive games, and third in four contests, marked the only run for the Lady Demons in game one.
 
The Ladyjacks took a three-run lead in the next half-inning off two of their own homers, including a two-run shot from offensive leader Shalie Day, to claim SFA's win on the day.
 
Burke extended her hitting streak to nine, a season-high, and led from the plate with a 4-for-6 outing and a team-high three RBI, followed by Brittany Virgoe at 3-for-7 and McKenney with a 4-for-8 performance and one RBI.
 
Sophomore Baylee Gray (2-1) picked up the lone win in the circle, relieving starter Kaylee Guidry in the fifth and threw 2.1 hitless and run-less innings, while striking out two. Guidry gave up five hits and both runs in 4.2 innings.
 
Shelby Sells (3-6) and Gray shared time in game one as Sells took the loss, allowing three hits and four runs. Gray struck out three and gave up just one hit in 3.1 innings.
 
The three-game series between the Southland Conference rivals finishes on Sunday at 1:00 at the SFA Softball Field. Northwestern State take the field again on Wednesday as it heads to in-state rival Louisiana Tech, with the first pitch slated for 6:30 in Ruston. The Lady Demons return home on Saturday for a three-game match-up with McNeese State starting at 2:00.