GAINESVILLE, Florida – Sophomore Katelyn Boles pitched her first complete game of her career as Northwestern State topped Florida International 4-2 on Saturday in the nightcap of the Aquafina Invitational.
Boles (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and seven walks as the Lady Demons stranded 10 Panthers runners.
NSU (5-4) split on the day after falling to No. 1 Florida 10-0 in five innings. The Lady Demons finish the five-game tournament Sunday with an 8 a.m. contest against Florida A&M (1-9).
Against FIU, Boles evaded serious harm despite FIU loading the bases in three different innings, twice with just one out.
"Boles pitched a great game tonight after having success against Florida on Friday," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "We need to develop depth in the circle with Micaela Bouvier out, and I think Boles grew up a lot this weekend."
Leadoff hitter Sidney Salmans continues to produce at the top of the lineup, and she slapped a bases-clearing triple in the second inning to put NSU up 3-0. The triple scored freshmen Kaitlyn St. Clair (singled), Toni Hebert (walked) and Elise Vincent (reached on a fielder's choice).
Freshmen accounted for three of NSU's four runs and three of the squad's six hits.
Senior Kellye Kincannon blasted her second home of the season in the fifth inning, and the solo shot boosted the Lady Demons' lead to 4-0.
"Sidney Salmans has been great at the plate for us this year," Pickett said of his leadoff whose eight RBIs nearly matched her entire 2016 total. (Kincannon's) home run was a big add-on for us, and it's great to see her start to get in a rhythm."
FIU leadoff Jackie Schoff supplied three of the Panthers' six hits. FIU scored a fifth-inning run and an unearned run in the seventh inning before Boles clamped down for the win.
Six of FIU's 10 stranded runners were left in scoring position.
No. 1 Florida 10, NSU 0 (5)
Northwestern State couldn't capitalize on its relatively close performance Friday against No. 1 Florida as the Gators got a run-rule win Saturday afternoon.
Gators pitcher Kelly Barnhill (3-0). tossed five shutout innings with only one hit allowed to Adele Vincent. Barnhill struck out nine Lady Demons and worked around four walks.
Florida (9-1) chipped away at NSU starter Mikayla Brown (2-3), scoring single runs in the first and second innings before plating three runs in the fourth inning.
Brown allowed five runs on five hits and three walks in four innings.
The Gators finished the Lady Demons by plating five runs in the fifth inning off reliever Brittney Jones. Florida's Jordan Roberts hit a two-run home run, and the Gators took advantage of six walks in the inning.
Shortstop Sophia Reynoso led the way with a 3-for-3 performance with three RBIs and one run scored.
On Friday, NSU tied the No. 1 Gators 3-3 in the fifth inning before Florida pulled away for a 9-3 win.
