CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Three first-inning runs weren't enough as Northwestern State lost its early lead in a 5-4 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Saturday's finale.
 
The Lady Demons (13-20-1, 3-6 Southland Conference) won both games Friday (3-2 and 12-1) but weren't able to complete its first conference sweep since 2015.
 
Islanders senior Liz Carter allowed just one earned run (four total) as she held off NSU's seventh inning charge.
 
Down two runs, senior Kellye Kincannon sacrificed flied in Hailee Rhodes (3-for-3), who led off the inning with a single before Sidney Salmans singled.
 
But a hard Brittney Jones line drive was hit right at third baseman Apsen Auger to end the game.
 
Carter scattered eight Lady Demon hits and survived a three-run first inning in which all runs were unearned after a fielding error to begin the frame.
 
In that inning, Kaylee Isenburg doubled in Sidney Salmans (reached on error) and Jones (singled) for a 2-0 lead.
 
A Jordan Rains RBI single pushed the Lady Demons' edge to 3-0.
 
But NSU gave two runs back on a Rhodes throwing error, chopping its lead to 3-2.
 
The Islanders (6-20, 1-5 SLC) started the inning with singles from Savannah Sandoval and Mackinzee Griebel.
 
Sophomore starter Katelyn Boles allowed two more runs in the third inning on a Lacey Boyd home run as TAMU-CC grabbed a 4-3 advantage. Carter walked to get on base, the only walk in Boles' 2 1-3 innings.
 
Mikayla Brown limited the damage in the third inning, but the Islanders scratched one more across in the fourth inning.
 
Sandoval (3-for-4) singled and then scored on an Asper Auger single for a 5-3 edge.
 
Brown allowed five hits and a walk with a run in 3 2-3 innings.
 
Rhodes three hits tied a career high, which she's done twice before. She finished the series with seven hits.
 
NSU returns to action Friday when it heads to McNeese for a 6 p.m. contest to begin a three-game series.