LAKE CHARLES – Freshman Maggie Black smashed a home run Saturday that breathed life back into Northwestern State, and the Lady Demons rode that momentum to a 4-3 series finale win in eight innings to avoid a sweep at McNeese.

The Cowgirls (15-18, 6-3 Southland Conference) appeared to be cruising toward a sweep with a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning, but Black's third home of the season reinvigorated the NSU (14-16, 6-3 SLC) offense, which recorded eight of its nine hits in the last four innings.

Black's two-run home run scored Riley Cantrell, who walked, as NSU sliced McNeese's lead to 3-2.

"It was a big momentum change, and it sure felt good off the bat," Black said. "I was looking inside and praying that that's where (McNeese starter Caroline Settle) would throw it.

"I wasn't excited about my outcomes (Friday), and I wasn't going to take no for an answer today. I decided I was going to be the hardest out today. I'm so proud of (NSU starter E.C. Delafield) in the way she fought, and the way all of us fought."

Black had a career-high three hits in the finale with a run scored and two RBIs.

But the Colleyville, Texas, native was far from the only offensive hero.

Facing a tough McNeese reliever Saleen Flores who had already recorded a save and a win in the series, NSU rallied for a seventh-inning run to send the contest to extra innings.

With Cantrell on third base, junior pinch hitter Emma Hawthorne singled through the left side to tie the game 3-3, her second pinch hit of the series.

Cantrell and Cayla Jones singled to start the inning before the Cowgirls turned a double play.

Facing Friday night winner Alexsandra Flores in the eighth inning, Cantrell (RBI, two runs scored) brought home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. Kaitlyn St. Clair singled and Alexis Perry reached on the lone McNeese error to put pressure on the Cowgirls.

"With the way the first two games went against us, and how we got down in the third game, we really looked like we didn't have anything left in the tank," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "It seemed like everything was going against us, and then one swing of the bat (Black's home run) got us going pretty quick.

"I haven't seen fight like that in a few years in this program, and these kids should be proud of what they did today. We did it as a team, and if we can build off that, we'll be a team that's coming down the stretch playing for something."

Delafield (3-1) made the comeback possible by holding down the fort after surrendering three runs in the first two innings.

She posted five straight scoreless innings to end the game, finishing with three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. McNeese got four of its seven hits in the first two innings.

"The first few innings were a little rough, and we were still bouncing back from the first two losses," Delafield said. "After that, my defense was making awesome plays, and (pitching coach Brooke Boening) was really working her pitch calls.

"We really got a lot of momentum from this win, and this is one that we really wanted to get in this rivalry. In this conference, everybody is good, and every single win counts."

Pickett reiterated the team aspect of Saturday's finale win, hoping the Lady Demons can carry momentum into the coming week, which features a Tuesday game at Grambling before returning to host Southeastern.

"(Delafield) did an awesome job after a little bit of a rough start, but she bowed her neck for eight innings against a good team," Pickett said. "(Hawthorne) came off the bench to get a hit with two outs to tie the game.

"We had infield hits with players diving for bags, and they just wanted it more. Riley dug herself a hole in the eighth inning, but she somehow found a way to get a sacrifice fly for the go-ahead run. That's team offense, giving it up for the next person."
 
McNeese 5, NSU 2

McNeese's top half of the lineup exploded to lead the Cowgirls to a 5-2 lead to secure the series win in the second game.

Hitters from the No. 2 slot to the No. 5 hole combined for 10 of McNeese's 12 hits and all five RBIs.

NSU started strongly as Alexis Perry bombed a two-run home run to left field, her second of the series and team-high fifth of the season, in the first inning.

But McNeese answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on doubles from Demi Boudreaux and Aubree Turbeville.

McNeese put up two more third-inning runs, chasing starter Mikayla Brown (3-4), who allowed four runs on six hits in two innings.

NSU reliever Bronte Rhoden pitched effectively for four innings with one run allowed, but the Lady Demons couldn't muster offense late.

McNeese reliever Saleen Flores (1-3) picked up the win with five scoreless innings on just two hits.