Box Score THIBODAUX – Kellye Kincannon had five hits and scored the go-ahead run in an opening comeback win Saturday, but an RBI double from Nicholls' Brittany Marcet in the bottom of the seventh forced the Northwestern State softball team to split a Southland Conference doubleheader as the Lady Demons claimed game one 6-4 and fell 5-4 at the Colonel Softball Complex.
 
The Lady Demons moved to 23-20 overall, 11-10 in the Southland as the Colonels shifted to 18-31, 8-13.
 
"We got the come-from-behind win in game one, but struggled to get on top in the second game," said sixth-year head coach Donald Pickett. "Sunday's finale is important to our berth to the post-season, so we need to come out strong and confident and get the win."

Hot-hitting Kincannon led NSU from the plate with a 5-for-6 performance and two RBI, followed by Cassandra Barefield at 3-for-5 and a pair of RBI. Kincannon had three hits and a school record-tying seven RBI Wednesday to key a win over Louisiana Tech.
 
Northwestern State will finish the series with Nicholls on Sunday at 1:00 at the Colonel Softball Complex. The game will be broadcast on the Demon Sports Network's flagship station, 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches, and audio streamed for free on NSUDemons.com.

In game one, the Colonels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first off three hits. Kincannon got things started after three scoreless innings for the Lady Demons. The freshman kicked things off in the fourth with her ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right field fence.
 
Brianna Rodriguez sent the game-tying run home in the sixth when she cranked out her 43^rd career double, her sixth of the season, to send pinch runner Shenequia Abby home, and force a Nicholls pitching change, bringing in Taylor Hastings for starter Morgan Skinner. Abby came in to run for Cassandra Barefield after the junior designated player doubled down the left field line. Kincannon reached on a single to second base, and moved to third on Rodriguez's double. The Clute, Texas, native scored the go-ahead-run on a wild pitch from Hastings.
 
The Lady Demons proceeded to load up the bases, and drew Cali Burke in the lineup. The senior second baseman went deep in the count, and reached on an RBI single to left field, giving the Lady Demons a 5-3 advantage.
 
The Colonels picked up a run in the bottom of the inning in an effort to combat the two-run deficit, but it wouldn't be enough as NSU tacked a single run in the top of the seventh to pad the margin.
 
With runners on first and second, Shepard increased the lead to two runs when sent a hopper to Morris, who bobbled it, and allowed one run to score, the final of the game.
 
Sophomore Baylee Gray (4-5) earned the win from the circle, allowing just one hit and one run in 5.1 innings. Kaylee Guidry started the game, but was relieved by Gray in the second.
 
The Colonels also dished out a three-run first-inning in the second game.
 
Trailing 3-1 in the third,  Barefield doubled to left center with Burke on second, bringing NSU within one. Nicholls took advantage of a Lady Demon error in the fourth to put up a single run and a 4-2 mark.
 
Freshman Brittney Jones brought NSU within one in the sixth when she notched a RBI single with runners on first and second. Micayla Sorosiak stepped in to hit for Baylee Shepard, and hit a grounder to shortstop that picked up the RBI as Tashana Triplett scored the game-tying run.
 
Marcet stepped up for Nicholls in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and Olivia Van Hook on first, and sent a shot to the left center field fence, scoring Van Hook for the win.
 
Shelby Sells (5-8) suffered the loss after entering late in the first in relief of Skylar Cagle. Sells gave up only four hits and two runs while striking out three.
 
The Lady Demons return home for the regular-season series finale with Southeastern Louisiana beginning on Saturday at one o'clock, and will celebrate senior day on Sunday after the finale.
 
 
Nicholls 5, Northwestern State 4
 
Nicholls 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 – 5 8 1
Northwestern State 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 – 4 6 2
 
Cagle, Sells and Shepard. Haydel and Marcet. W – Haydel (6-12). L – Sells (5-8). Leaders – Northwestern State: Barefield (2-3, 2 RBI), Kincannon (2-3), Jones (1-2). Nicholls: Levy (2-4), Spain (1-3, 2RBI). T – 2:15. A – 401. Records – Northwestern State (23-20, 11-10 SLC), Nicholls (18-31, 8-13 SLC).
 
Northwestern State 6, Nicholls 4
 
Northwestern State 0 0 0 2 0 3 1 – 6 10 1
Nicholls 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 4 6 1
 
Guidry, Gray and Shepard. Johnson, Skinner, Hastings and Morris. W – Gray (4-5). L – Skinner (2-2). Leaders – Northwestern State: Kincannon (3-3, 2 RBI), Rodriguez (2-4, 1 RBI), McKenney (2-4). Nicholls: Levy (2-3, 2 RBI), Prater (1-2, 1 RBI), Parkerson (2-4). T – 2:30. A – 401. Records – Northwestern State (23-19, 11-9 SLC), Nicholls (17-31, 7-13 SLC).