Box Score THIBODAUX – A three-run RBI double from Cali Burke in the second inning would be all the Northwestern State softball team needed to break a tie-game en route to a 7-1 Southland Conference win over Nicholls Sunday afternoon at the Colonel Softball Complex.

The win marked the second of the weekend for the Lady Demons (24-20 overall, 12-10 SLC) as they claimed their third Southland series in a row. Nicholls dropped to 18-32, 8-14 with the loss.

"This win was crucial for us, not only to claim the series, but for our standings heading into the post-season," said sixth-year head coach Donald Pickett. "We're anxious to finish up our home schedule with Southeastern next weekend and head to the conference tournament."

Tied 1-1 heading into the second, Brianna Rodriguez lead off the inning with a single to center field, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A groundout and strikeout from the next two batters gave Nicholls a chance at getting out of the inning unscathed, but the Lady Demons turned things around when a pair of walks loaded up the bases and brought up Burke. The senior second baseman sent a hard shot to the left center field fence, and gave all three runners the opportunity to score.

Things quieted down for both teams until the sixth when NSU tacked on a pair of insurance runs. Brittney Jones got things started with a solo home run to right field, her eighth of the season, followed by a RBI-single from Tara McKenney to push the Lady Demons to a 6-1 lead.

Cassandra Barefield extended the lead even further with her 13^th homer of the year way beyond the center field fence in the seventh.

The Colonels had plenty of chances to combat the NSU lead as they left 10 runners on base throughout the game.

Baylee Gray (5-5) entered in relief late in the first, and brought home her third win of the week. The sophomore struck out five batters and allowed eight hits on the day. Kaylee Guidry started in the circle, and gave up three hits.

Burke led from the plate with a 1-for-1 performance and three RBI, followed by McKenney and Jones registering 2-for-3 outings and one RBI each.

Northwestern State hosts Southeastern Louisiana in a three-game Southland Conference series beginning on Saturday at one o'clock at the Lady Demon Diamond for its final home appearance of the season. The Lady Demons will be fighting for a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament that is set to begin May 8 in Hammond on the campus of Southeastern.