NATCHITOCHES –
Micayla Sorosiak notched her second four RBI performance in as many games, leading Northwestern State softball to a 10-5 victory against Louisiana Tech on Wednesday night at the Lady Demon Diamond.
The win was NSU's (16-12, 6-0 Southland) season-long seventh straight while the eighth double-digit scoring affair of the year tied the program record set in 2005 and matched last season.
"This was a good win," seventh-year head coach
Donald Pickett said. "Louisiana Tech is a good team and it's always a fight when we play them. We were able to jump out on them early. We got that one (run) late with (Brittney) Jones and I think that helped us keep the momentum in the game."
The Lady Demons put up six runs in the top of the first, chasing Louisiana Tech (16-8) starter Carolina Sanchez (2-1) from the game. In the frame, Jones,
Brittany Virgoe and
Cassandra Barefield all drew walks while Sorosiak recorded two RBIs on a single and
Baylee Shephard, making her fifth start behind the plate, registered a RBI double.
Freshman
Mikayla Brown made her first collegiate start for the Lady Demons, tossing 1 2-3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out two and walking another.
Micaela Bouvier (8-4) entered in relief, throwing the final 5 1-3 innings, scattering five hits and allowing three earned runs while striking out six and walking four. The right-hander also picked up the win, her fifth in as many games.
"(Brown) did a great job," Pickett said. "We just made a mistake. We ended up making a change with Bouvier. She got the momentum back. We were real happy with both pitchers tonight."
After the Lady Techsters recorded two runs in the second, NSU countered with two outs in the bottom half of the frame. A Barefield single, Singles from Barefield and Jones sandwiched between a
Natalie Landry hit by pitch set the stage for Sorosiak to drive home two more runs on a single.
Kellye Kincannon pushed her team-leading hit streak to seven with a RBI single in the third, plating
Sidney Salmans and putting NSU up 9-4. Salmans was again impressive in the leadoff spot, finishing 3-for-4 and scoring two runs.
"I think it goes back to being able to score early," Pickett said. "Her being able to score at the top of the lineup always helps. She's done great things as a freshman. She's getting stronger as the year goes and hopefully she can continue that."
Jones hit her eighth home run of the season with a solo shot in the sixth to provide the final Lady Demons run. The first baseman finished 2-for-3, scoring three runs and driving home two others. The multi-RBI game was her sixth this season.
The meeting was the 95th all-time between the Lady Demons and Lady Techsters and was NSU's third straight victory against its in-state rival. The two squads will meet again in Ruston on April 15.
The Lady Demons continue their homestand by welcoming Southland foe Sam Houston State to town this weekend. The squad's will meet in a Friday doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. and conclude the series on Saturday at one o'clock.
