ABILENE, Texas -- Northwestern State made a furious seventh-inning rally by scoring three runs, but Abilene Christian's early offense was enough as the Lady Demons fell 4-3 in the series opener.
 
NSU (15-8, 3-1 Southland Conference) started its rally with a Julie Rawls single and Hayley Barbazon reaching on a fielder's choice.
 
Emma Hawthorne doubled in Rawls before Barbazon scored on a dropped third strike to cut ACU's lead to 4-2 with one out.
 
Toni Hebert drove in the third run with a ground out, but ACU pitcher Hannah Null stopped the bleeding with her seventh strikeout to end the game.
 
Null (8-6) scattered eight NSU hits and left four runners stranded.
 
NSU still has a chance to win the series with a Saturday doubleheader at noon at ACU (9-12, 3-1 SLC).

"We have to come out aggressive and be ready to play from start to finish," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "(E.C. Delafield) gave us a chance to stay in the game with the way she pitched, so that's a positive."
 
Freshman pitcher E.C. Delafield had her career-best outing with five scoreless innings in relief.
 
After ACU struck for four runs off starter Micaela Bouvier, Delafield held the Wildcats to two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Bouvier (7-2), who had won in each of her last five outings, allowed four runs in one inning (didn't record an out in the second inning) on five hits.
 
It's the most runs the senior has allowed since giving up five runs at then-No. 10 Baylor in the season opener.
 
In the first inning, ACU's Peyton Hedrick singled in a run before Holly Neese hit a two-run home run.
 
The Wildcats left the bases stranded in the first inning, but a Braegan Hamilton RBI double handed ACU a 4-0 edge in the second inning and chased Bouvier.
 
Before the seventh-inning rally, ACU outfielder Donelle Johnson made a diving grab to strand two runners in scoring position in the sixth inning. The threat was created by an Hebert single and a Cayla Jones double.
 
NSU also had a scoring opportunity in the fifth inning when Rawls was tagged at home plate after trying to score on an overthrow.
 
Rawls (2-for-3) and Hawthorne (2-for-3) led the way for an NSU lineup that got seven of its eight hits from lineup spots No. 5-9.
 
Barbazon, Elyssa Hernandez and Hebert (RBI) each recorded hits.