Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NATCHITOCHES – Home runs from Brittney Jones and Kellye Kincannon in game one of the Southland Conference doubleheader between the Northwestern State softball team and McNeese State allowed the Lady Demons to split games Sunday afternoon at the Lady Demon Diamond, with NSU taking game one 4-2 and falling in game two 6-0.
 
The Lady Demons maintained their even record to register at 15-15 overall, 6-4 in the Southland, while the Cowgirls moved to 22-10, 8-3.
 
"We put up a strong performance all around in the first game today, but we couldn't pull it out in the second," said sixth-year head coach Donald Pickett. "We have a series of home games throughout the next week and a half, so we have to prepare for those."
 
McNeese veteran Rachel Smith gave up just two hits from the circle in game two to aid in the Cowgirls' shutout. McNeese sent two runners home in the third and seventh, respectively, and single runs in the fifth and seventh to build their advantage.
 
Baylee Gray (2-2) and Skylar Cagle split time in the circle. Gray took the loss after throwing five complete innings, allowing six hits and striking out two. Cagle threw two innings, giving up just one hit and three runs.
 
In game one, Jones cranked out her fifth homer of the season with a runner on second to give NSU an early 2-0 lead.  The Lady Demons put runners on the corners in the third and drew up Cassandra Barefield. The designated player struck out swinging, but reached on a dropped third strike and a throwing error by catcher Ashley Modzewski and allowed one run to score.
 
Kincannon led off the fourth inning with her sixth home run of the season to put the Lady Demons up 4-0.
 
McNeese got its only runs of the game in the fifth off a two-run homer from Alanna DiVittorio.
 
Senior Kaylee Guidry (6-3) threw her fourth complete game of the season to earn the win, allowing five hits and striking out just one.  
 
Jones led from the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBI on the day, followed by Barefield at 2-for-6.
 
Northwestern State will continue its nine-game home stand with Southern in a doubleheader on Wednesday at 4:00. League foe Sam Houston State visits for a three-game series April 5, and No. 20 Louisiana Lafayette comes to Natchitoches on April 9 for a single game starting at six o'clock.