BEAUMONT, Texas – A leadoff walk and error plated the winning run for Lamar in the bottom of the seventh, halting Northwestern State softball's win streak at 11 while handing the Lady Demons their first conference loss as NSU fell 4-3 at the Lamar Softball Complex on Saturday.

NSU's 11 straight wins tied the program record set in 1990 and matched again in 1998 and 2013. The streak began on March 6 against Incarnate Word. Despite the loss, the Lady Demons (20-13 overall, 10-1 SLC) took their fourth straight Southland Conference series. The win moved Lamar to 17-13 overall and 10-2 in league play.

"Lamar came out with a lot of energy today," seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said. "I don't think we matched that intensity. I thought we came out a little flat. We were able to come back later in the game with a lot of fight but we waited too late. For five innings, we felt like our approaches weren't there."

After falling behind three runs heading to the sixth, the Lady Demons rallied. Cassandra Barefield notched her third hit of the game to lead off the frame. One hitter later Brittney, Jones walked and the pair moved to second and third on a Natalie Landry groundout. Kaytie Proctor got Northwestern State on the board with a two-run double to bring NSU within one at 3-2. Then, Hailee Rhodes doubled to right, plating Shelby Alexander who pinch ran for Proctor to tie it up.

"Kaytie did a great job with two outs," Pickett said. "She came up and got that big two-out hit for us. She hit the ball hard all day, they were just right at somebody and finally got it in the gap and scored those two runs. Rhodes had been hot all weekend and got that double down the right field line and gave us a lot of energy and chance to win the game."

Bouvier threw four innings, allowing six hits and three runs. Mikayla Brown (4-1) was handed the loss in relief, tossing two innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out two and walking two. Lamar starter Laura Napoli (12-7) went the distance, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out five and walking another.

In the bottom fourth, Lamar's Jenna Holland led off the frame with a single to left. Stephanie Meeuwsen reached on an error to put Lady Cardinal hitters on first and second. The runners moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Jenna Holland. Lamar got on the board first with a bloop single from Brynn Baca that fell perfectly between second base and center field.

In the fifth, Taylor Duck singled and moved to second on NSU's second error of the day. Casey Cromwell singled up the middle, chasing Bouvier from the game. Sarah Ragsdale singled to right, plating Lamar's second run. Shannon Sain continued the Lamar hit parade with a RBI single that hit the left field line. The Lady Demons escaped further trouble thanks to a 1-5 double play.

In the second, Cassandra Barefield led off the frame with a double to right center, moving her reached base streak to 12 games. One batter later, Brittney Jones was hit by her second pitch of the year. Natalie Landry moved the runners over with a well-executed sacrifice bunt but the Lady Demons couldn't capitalize.

Lamar threatened in the second. With one out, Jenna Holland singled and moved to third on a double to right center from Brynn Baca. However, Brittney Jones stabbed a ball at third for the second out and made a nice play off the dirt for the final out, stranding Lamar runners at second and third.

In the third, Hailee Rhodes recorded NSU's first hit of the day with a single up the middle. However, after being sacrificed over to second by Sidney Salmans and advancing to third on Virgoe's groundout, she was stranded there.

One inning later, Barefield led off the frame with a check swing single to right. One hitter later, Jones took roped a first pitch to left to place runners on first and second and move her hit streak to seven. Both runners moved up a bag on an error from the catcher attempting to catch Barefield off the bag. However, back-to-back strikeouts and an over the shoulder grab from Lamar shortstop Meeuwsen ended the threat.

Northwestern State returns to play next weekend when the squad hosts Central Arkansas. The Friday doubleheader begins at three o'clock with the Saturday finale slated for noon.