BATON ROUGE – Northwestern State scored six runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at 10 against Ball State before Cassandra Barefield laced a two-out seventh inning walk-off single to cap a ferocious 11-10 comeback victory at LSU's Purple and Gold Challenge on Saturday.

"It was a tale of three games in one," seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said. "The first two innings we took that big lead. They came back and jumped into a big lead. We were able to chip away. The closer we got the more hungry we got at the plate. Bare(field) was able to come up there with two outs and get a big hit for us. She's been in those situations before I think that gives her confidence knowing she can produce in a situation like that."

In the weekend, finale, the Lady Demons (9-11) fell 15-1 to No. 7 LSU in five innings. The Tigers plated nine runs in the second inning and outhit NSU, 14-2.

Against Ball State (8-10), Brittany Virgoe launched her fourth home run of the season in the sixth inning, plating Hailee Rhodes (double) and Sidney Salmans (single). The three-run shot brought the game to within three at 10-7. After Kellye Kincannon and Barefield singled, Brittney Jones doubled off the wall to cut the deficit to one at 10-9.

After Natalie Landry walked to load the bases, Kayla Boening singled to left field to bring home Barefield at tie the game at 10.

It was the fourth time this season the Lady Demons have scored at least 10 runs in a game. One season ago, NSU scored at least 10 runs in a game eight times, tying the program's previous record set in 2005.

The victory was the 162nd of the Donald Pickett era, moving the NSU head coach into second all-time in program history in wins. In his seventh season at the helm, Pickett passes up Gay McNutt (1995-2000) and now only trails Rickey McCalister's (1987-1994) impressive 245 wins.

"We've had good assistant coaches and good players," Pickett said. "We are able to be a big family and have everyone pulling together. I'm just really proud of the kids we've had."

NSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Sidney Salmans led off the inning with a single and came around two score two batters later on a Kincannon single and Cardinals' error. Later, Kayla Boening picked up her second and third RBIs of the season when the senior drove in Brittney Jones (fielder's choice) and Barefield (hit by pitch).

Mikayla Brown earned her first win of the season, tossing 3 2-3 innings, giving up two runs and two hits to close out the game. Starter Skylar Cagle tossed 2 1-3 innings, giving up three hits and four runs. Shelby Sells came on in relief, allowing four runs, only one earned, in one inning.

Against LSU (20-0), Virgoe led off the fourth inning with a double and came around to score when Kincannon singled up the middle.

In the circle, Micaela Bouvier drew the loss, allowing 10 hits and eight earned runs in 1 2-3 innings pitched. Baylee Gray came on in relief, going 2 1-3 innings, giving up four hits and three earned runs.

Northwestern State returns to Baton Rouge on Tuesday night to face LSU at six o'clock.