GRAMBLING – Northwestern State used an explosive sixth inning to rally from a one-run deficit in a 7-3 win at Grambling.

The diminutive Grambling pitcher Kenyshae Beasley (5-foot-1) kept the Lady Demons (15-16) off balanced for five innings, but NSU busted through with five runs in the sixth inning.

After a Cayla Jones sacrifice fly tied the game at 3-3, junior Hayley Barbazon laced an RBI triple to give the Lady Demons the lead for good off Beasley (0-3).

"At first, we were swinging too early and popping stuff up," Barbazon said. "We finally got it together, and I lined the ball up and put one on the barrel really good."

NSU added three more runs in the inning – an Emma Hawthorne RBI single, a Riley Cantrell fielder's choice RBI and a Maggie Black RBI single.

The Lady Demons had five of their season-high 13 hits in that inning, also drawing two of their walks in the frame.

But before NSU's offensive surge, it needed a little pitching help.

Grambling (12-13) dented starting pitcher Bronte Rhoden and reliever Mikayla Brown for three runs in the fifth inning to snatch a 3-2 lead, and the Lady Tigers had the bases loaded with no outs for reliever Samantha Guile.

But Guile (4-7), who was celebrating her 21^st birthday Tuesday with family in attendance, got a force out at home before striking out the next two batters to end the threat.

Guile allowed just one hit in her three relief innings with five strikeouts.

"The pressure was on in that situation, but I knew my defense had my back," said Guile, who is in her first season at NSU after pitching at Southern Utah for two seasons. "Cayla Jones comes up with that grounder and threw home, and that changed the momentum of the game for us.

"I've always had the support from my family no matter where I play, but having them being at every single game and seeing that support face to face, it makes all the difference in the world."

Rhoden cruised through her first four innings with no runs on two hits, but Grambling scratched across a run in the fifth inning with a McKenzie Johnson RBI single to slice NSU's lead to 2-1.

With the bases loaded, Brown hit a batter and allowed an RBI single as Grambling took a 3-2 edge.

But Guile limited further damage and allowed NSU's offense to catch on to Beasley, who allowed seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits.

Rhoden finished with three runs allowed on five hits and two walks.

NSU grabbed an early lead in the second inning with a Jones RBI single to score Nikki Skerlong (walk).

The Lady Demons widened the gap to 2-0 on a Riley Cantrell RBI double. Jones and Cantrell each recorded two RBIs.

Kaitlyn St. Clair (two runs scored) tied a career high with three hits, including a fifth-inning single before scoring on Cantrell's double.

Junior Emma Hawthorne went 2-for-3 as eight other Lady Demons recorded single hits.

NSU returns home to face Southeastern in a single Friday (5 p.m.) and a doubleheader Saturday (noon). The NSU-SLU series added a little extra incentive with the first annual Cypress Trophy, which will be awarded each year to the winner.