LAKE CHARLES – Northwestern State couldn't dig itself out of an early hole Friday as the Lady Demons dropped the series opener 3-1 at McNeese.

The Cowgirls (14-17, 5-2 Southland Conference) scored all three runs in the first three innings, and the Lady Demons (13-15, 5-2 SLC) couldn't muster enough offense late in their second straight loss.

NSU entered the day tied for first in the SLC standings with Lamar, and the Lady Demons could still end Saturday in that top spot with five teams muddled near the top, including McNeese.

The series concludes Saturday with a noon doubleheader.

"We've still got to come out ready to play, even though we came out better than we did (Wednesday against Louisiana Tech)," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "We outplayed them after the third inning, but we have to be ready to play from the first pitch.

"We have to play the same way the whole game. We had some opportunities to score, had some base runners on with some people up to bat. We couldn't put enough together at the end."

McNeese chalked up one first-inning run when Demi Boudreaux produced a two-out RBI single.

NSU starter Samantha Guile (3-7) worked a perfect second inning, but she left in the third inning after McNeese loaded the bases with a walk and pair of singles.

The Cowgirls increased their lead to 2-0 on an error in which shortstop Nikki Skerlong threw home for the force out to catcher Alexis Perry. The umpire ruled that Perry didn't touch home plate, which drew a spirited argument from Pickett.

That was the first batter reliever E.C. Delafield faced, and McNeese scored its second run of the inning on an Aubre Turbeville RBI single. But Delafield kept NSU within range when she recorded three straight outs with the bases loaded, including two of her five strikeouts.

Delafield dealt four relief innings without being credited with a run, allowing just two hits while hanging zeros in the final three innings. Guile finished with three runs (two earned) allowed on five hits and a walk in two innings.

"E.C. did a great job, and she kept McNeese right where we wanted her to," Pickett said. "She got us out of a tight jam (in the third inning) with the bases loaded, and that gave us a chance to stay in the game.

"We need her to continue to do that for us to be the team we need to be."

But McNeese starter Alexsandra Flores (7-7) allowed just one run on four hits in the win, holding off an NSU rally.

Perry smashed a solo home run off the scoreboard to cut McNeese's edge to 3-1, and Delafield reached second base on an error. Perry is one of three Lady Demons with a team-high four home runs.

McNeese reliever Saleen Flores pitched a 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings to earn her second save.

NSU sophomore Cayla Jones produced two of NSU's four hits, including a fourth-inning double in which she slipped headed to third base, but fought her way back to second base to avoid the out.

The Lady Demons couldn't bring her in, accounting for one of six left on base, three in scoring position.