NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State softball rallied back from an early three-run deficit thanks to three solo home runs including two as part of a three-run fifth inning to beat ULM, 4-3 at the Lady Demon Diamond on Wednesday.

NSU's (3-8) Cassandra Barefield hit her first home run of the season, a shot over the left center field wall to bring the Lady Demons within two at 3-1 in the bottom second. The dinger was the 37^th of her career, one shy of tying Erin Mancusos's (1998-02) program leading 38.

Brittney Jones got in action as well with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom fifth. The left field liner was her second of the season. Two batters later, Hailee Rhodes also struck big with her first collegiate home run to tie the game at three.

"You always feel good as a coach when (the freshmen) are doing well," seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said of Rhodes. "Hailee has done a really good job coming in as freshman and playing shortstop and some good defense. This last weekend, she started swinging the bat a lot better. Tonight she got that big home run to tie the game."

After Sidney Salmans reached on an error, Brittany Virgoe notched her seventh RBI of the season with a single right up the middle to give NSU a 4-3 lead.

"The other thing I'm really proud of is our seniors," Pickett said. "Bare(field) got us that big home run and Virgoe came up with a two-out hit. That's what we need out of her. She's a clutch player. We're really happy with her that she got the go ahead run."

Micaela Bouvier picked up her second win of the season in dominant fashion, striking out 10 Warhawk hitters including five straight between the fourth and sixth innings. With the win, the Lady Demons ended the Warhawks (9-2) eight-game win streak.

"She's very capable of doing that on a consistent basis," Pickett said of Bouvier. "She's young and everyone has to remember that but we just need to keep putting her in those situations. She can be a dominant pitcher for us for a very long time. She's worked hard to get where she is. We're real happy the way she threw tonight."

Six Lady Demons registered hits including Kellye Kincannon, who led the squad with two. After ULM's three-run first inning against starter Baylee Gray, the squad tallied just one hit the remainder of the game.

"We just told our squad to keep playing the game," Pickett said. "Don't let it get too fast. We relaxed and kept chipping away; we were able to bring Bouvier in and she held them where they were."

Northwestern State has a quick turnaround with a game against Saint Louis scheduled for Thursday at 2:30 p.m. from Jackson, Miss. From there, the Lady Demons begin play at the Jackson State Tournament from Friday-Sunday, facing off against Belmont, Morehead State and host Jackson State.

"It's always good to win before you hit the road," Pickett said. "Hopefully our girls will go play a good team in Saint Louis. It's going to be another good test. We want to be tested early. They should be feeling good about tonight and hopefully we can carry it into the weekend."