HOUSTON –
Kellye Kincannon and
Cassandra Barefield provided the 1-2 punch in the heart of the order, accounting for three home runs and 11 RBIs as Northwestern State softball defeated Houston Baptist 14-1 victory in five innings in the series opener from Husky Field.
The Lady Demons (13-12, 4-0 Southland) erupted for seven runs on six hits, highlighted by a Kincannon grand slam, in the fifth inning to deal the Huskies (6-14, 0-4 SLC) their final blow. The frame marked the third straight inning NSU had scored, including a four-run fourth.
"It was really big for them to hit those home runs but it was also big for (Brittany) Virgoe and Sidney (Salmans) to be on base," seventh-year head coach
Donald Pickett said. "Those two getting on base really set us up for big innings."
Salmans scored a career-high four runs and matched her high with three hits in the leadoff spot to set the tone for NSU. Barefield finished with five RBIs – second only to Kincannon's six – to match her career high.
Barefield upped the Lady Demons lead to 7-1 with a three-run long ball in the fourth inning, plating Kincannon and Salmans. One inning later, the Houston native followed Kincannon's grand slam with her fifth home run of the season, notching NSU's final run of the day.
The Lady Demons 1-5 hitters finished with two or more hits, including Virgoe, who moved her season-high reached base streak to 11. Elsewhere, Kincannon's multi-RBI game was her team-high ninth in 24 starts. The 2-for-3 outing pushed her average to .403.
"The first time through the lineup we were a little out front," Pickett said. "We made good adjustments and were able to string together some innings there."
In the circle, righty
Micaela Bouvier (6-4) notched her team-leading sixth win of the season, tossing five innings while dropping her season ERA to 3.52. The freshman allowed just three hits and two walks and struck out two hitters.
"I thought she started off a little slow," Pickett said. "They scored a run early. The middle innings she got strong and threw the ball well. She put a couple baserunners on late but was able to escape the jam."
HBU right-handed starter Emily Mueller was dealt the loss, tossing three innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while walking two. Catcher Madison Vonhagel finished 2-for-2, driving in the Huskies lone run in the second inning, at the time knotting the game at one.
As a team, NSU tallied 15 hits, their second highest total of the season and matched their season high, hitting .500. The 14 runs were also the second highest of the season and marked the sixth time in 25 games NSU has scored double digits. One year ago, the Lady Demons tied the 1995 school-record of eight double-digit games in a season.
The win moved NSU to 8-1 all-time against Houston Baptist. The Southland foes conclude the series with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
