NATCHITOCHES – Battling for the top spot in the Southland Conference on Friday, Northwestern State softball and Central Arkansas split a pair of pitcher's duels, with all three runs on the day coming via solo home runs. NSU claimed a 2-0 victory in Game 1 before the Sugar Bears edged NSU, 1-0 in Game 2 at the Lady Demon Diamond.

"These are two good teams and there was a lot of good pitching today," seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said. "We were lucky to square two balls up in the first game to get the win. They were able to square that ball up in the second. It was kind of all or nothing for everybody today. We just couldn't get anything going consistently. They have good pitchers and we're going to have to be able to make better adjustments and be more consistent."

In the opener, redshirt freshman starter Micaela Bouvier (11-4) tossed 6 2-3 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out two. Right-hander Mikayla Brown handled the final out to earn her second save of the season after Bouvier left the game, appearing to tweak something in her right shoulder.

Bouvier has allowed three runs or fewer in each of her last eight outings as a starter. It was the fourth time in that span the righty has held opponents scoreless. The split moved NSU to 21-14 and 11-2 in Southland play while Central Arkansas went to 24-11 and 12-2 in league play.

Brown (4-2) was masterful in her second start of the season in Game 2, tossing a complete game and striking out seven while scattering five hits and allowing one run. UCA starter Kayla Gomness (1-0) earned her first win of the year, throwing 6 1-3 and allowing eight hits while striking out three.

"They did great," Pickett said of Bouvier and Brown's outings. "They gave us a chance to win both games. All we can ask for is them to keep doing those things. Offensively, we didn't do what we needed to win the ballgame today."

Kellye Kincannon put NSU on the board in the first, with a home run into the Outfield Club in left. The long ball was her team-leading 11^th of the season and moved the Lady Demons to 19-2 when scoring first.

In the second, Natalie Landry drilled a shot off the light pole in left center for NSU's final run. The long ball was her fourth of the season and first since March 14 at Houston Baptist.

The Lady Demons escaped jams in the second and third innings on line drives to Brittany Virgoe at third. In the second, with UCA runners on first and second, Ashley Boswell hit a shot to the hot corner, which was stabbed by Virgoe and tossed over to first to catch Hayley Parker off the bag for the double play.

In Game 2, Central Arkansas shortstop Hayley Parker launched a two-out solo home run to center field in the second inning, providing the difference.

In the seventh, Iowa transfer Michaela Johnson saw her first at bat with NSU, recording a pinch-hit single up the middle. After Kayla Boening came in to pinch run, Hailee Rhodes singled to left, placing runners on first and second with one out before Game 1 starter Kylee Studioso came on in relief, notching the final two outs to record her first save of the season.

"Their pitcher was throwing down all day and Johnson's got a really good swing," Pickett said. "We thought it was a better matchup than what we were doing. Our kids just weren't making the adjustments. We were trying to get something going. She did a great job of going up there to get on."

The Lady Demons threatened in the third. With one out, the No. 9 hitter Rhodes lined a single to left, turning the order over to Sidney Salmans who singled her to second. However, Gomness ended the threat on a groundout to third and fly out to right.

In the fourth, Brittney Jones picked up her first hit of the day, lining a first-pitch single to left but was stranded on second following consecutive groundouts. One inning later, Salmans notched a bloop single to left on a 1-2 count. The freshman stole second on the next pitch, her sixth successful swipe in seven tries but was stranded there on a fly out.

In the sixth, Kincannon led off the frame with a 1-0 single to center. The sophomore stole second with two outs, her second swipe of the season but was stranded there.