LONG BEACH, Calif. – Northwestern State put a scare into Sacramento State, placing two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning, but fell 4-2 after losing 4-0 to Long Beach State earlier in the day at the season opening SoCal Collegiate Classic from the 49er Softball Complex.

"We looked like it was the first day," seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said. "We had a chance to compete in both games and we just didn't make good plays. Offensively, we just weren't as disciplined as we usually are and those teams took advantage of it. We just need to keep getting better each day."

NSU (0-2) scored its first run of the season against Sacramento State (1-1) after three straight batters reached in the second inning behind a Brittney Jones single, Kaytie Proctor hit by pitch and Kayla Boening walk. Shortly later, a Sidney Salmans walk put NSU on the board and Micayla Sorosiak walk gave the squad its first lead of the year at 2-1.

After tying the game at two in the fourth, both teams remained scoreless until the seventh when the Hornets pushed home two runs on two singles and two hits by pitch. Salmans picked up her second hit of the day and Lady Demon career before Sorosiak walked but NSU could do nothing more in the bottom of the seventh.

In her first outing as a Lady Demon, redshirt freshman Micaela Bouvier tossed seven innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs while striking out four. She also walked two and hit three batters while throwing 120 pitches.

Against Long Beach State, Northwestern State softball junior transfer Sarah Huey collected her first two hits as a Lady Demon, but Long Beach State scored two runs in each of the first two innings and never looked back, taking the game, 4-0.

"It was good to see our newcomers play like we think they can play," Pickett said. "We've got the have more out of our returners. We need more consistent play from. The approaches weren't there."

NSU notched just three hits and threatened The Beach (2-0) only once in the sixth when the Lady Demons put runners on second and third with two outs after Natalie Landry reached on a fielder's choice and Sorosiak doubled.

In the circle, NSU's Baylee Gray scattered five hits over six innings but was ultimately doomed by five walks – three of which came in the first two innings.

Meanwhile, Long Beach starter Amanda Hansen was lights out, tossing seven innings allowing just three hits and striking out four. Five Long Beach hitters collected one hit a piece in the win.

Northwestern State returns to action against No. 22/21 Notre Dame on Saturday at one o'clock followed by a matchup against Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. The games will be held in Fullerton, Calif. at Cal State's Anderson Family Field.