Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
WACO, Texas -- Northwestern State's bats awakened Saturday after a tough Friday night, scoring four runs despite leaving the bases loaded twice in an 8-4 loss to No. 10 Baylor.

NSU (0-3) fell in the second game as well, 4-1, but freshman second baseman hit NSU's first home run of the season for one of the Lady Demons' four hits.

"We got better all weekend long, and that's something we challenged this team to do (after Friday night's game)," said NSU coach Donald Pickett, referring to Friday's no-hitter. "We had some better at-bats, good plays and had better pitching today.

"We did a good job of bouncing back after last night, but it's still early in the season, and we have a lot to get better at."

NSU has a full week coming up with a doubleheader at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday before hosting the Natchitoches Historic Development District Commission Lady Demon Classic beginning Friday.

Game 1: Baylor 8, NSU 4

Freshman Cayla Jones led the way with two hits and one RBI, driving in senior Sidney Salmans to chop Baylor's lead to 2-1 in the third inning.

An unearned run in the bottom of that frame pushed Baylor's edge to 3-1 before three fifth-inning runs widened the gap to 6-1.

But NSU wasn't going quietly as Jones scored on a Kaylee Isenburg double in the sixth innings. The Lady Demons sliced Baylor's lead to 6-3 on a Sidney Harris sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Kayla Roquemore.

Freshman E.C. Delafield relieved starter Micaela Bouvier (0-1) in the fifth inning, and Baylor added two more runs to lead 8-3.

Baylor sent Gia Rodoni, who no-hit NSU on Friday, back to the circle for the seventh inning.

The Lady Demons got a revenge of sorts as sophomore Adele Vincent doubles high off the outfield wall in the first at-bat.

Salmans walks on a wild pitch to put runners on the corners before Hayley Barbazon puts a ball in play to create an error, scoring a run and cutting Baylor's lead to 8-4.

NSU had the bases loaded with no outs, but Rodoni struck out the next three to end the rally.

The four runs is the most NSU has scored against a ranked opponent since early 2015 in a 9-5 loss to Notre Dame.

The Lady Demons also loaded the bases in the second inning, but Baylor starter Regan Green (1-0) recorded one of her five strikeouts to end that threat.

Green allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in six innings.

Counterpart Bouvier was making her first start since March 10 against Lamar. Bouvier made just six starts in 2017 while battling a shoulder injury.

Baylor's Shelby Friudenberg (three RBIs) and Taylor Ellis (two RBIs) plate runs before leftfielder Julie Rawls throws a runner out at the plate to end the inning.

Bouvier settled in, allowing just one unearned run in the next three frames before Baylor struck for three fifth-inning runs. Goose McGlaun (3 RBIs), Friudenberg and Ellis chipped in RBIs.

Bouvier finished with six runs (five earned) on eight hits in four innings.

Game 2: Baylor 4, NSU 1

Freshman E.C. Delafield shined in relief, holding Baylor to one run on two hits in four innings.

The Bears touched starter Mariah Denson for three third-inning runs before Delafield slowed down the hosts.

Baylor scored with a Fruidenberg sacrifice fly, a Jesse Scroggins single and a Denson wild pitch.

Denson, who was pitching in her first start at NSU after transferring from UT Arlington, allowed three runs on five hits with two walks in two full innings.

Baylor scored its lone run off Delafield on an error, but the run became earned later in the inning.

The North DeSoto High alum combined for three runs allowed in six innings with six hits.

Jones supplied NSU's lone run with a home run off Goose McGlaun in the fourth inning, which chopped Baylor's lead to 3-1.

In Jones' three hits in the doubleheader, she recorded NSU's first hit, first RBI and first home run.

"The freshman did a great job, and they did really well in the fall," Pickett said. "E.C. and Bouvier gave us good outings today and kept us in the games.

"We had a couple of big innings, and we had a chance at having a couple more this weekend. That consistency will come as the season goes, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this team can do."

McGlaun allowed four hits in the complete game with two strikeouts and one walk.