BEAUMONT, Texas – Northwestern State stared down a two-run deficit and series loss in Friday's second game, only to explode for six runs in its final at bat and fend off a Lamar rally in a 6-5 win.

NSU (23-20, 13-7 Southland Conference) couldn't complete a comeback in the first contest, a 4-3 loss.

The Lady Demons sit in sixth place in the conference standings as they aim for a series win Saturday in the 1 p.m. finale.

"They did find toughness late," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "We couldn't get anything going early in the games, and we even scored some late runs in that first game.

"We runners in scoring position a lot today and couldn't always come up with the big hit. We've got to slow the game down and play softball, but I'm proud of how we hit late."

NSU 6, Lamar 5

Sophomore Cayla Jones cleared the bases with a double that served as the cornerstone for NSU's six-run inning.

NSU loaded the bases on an E.C. Delafield walk, an error and a Codi Vernace walk before Elise Vincent (2-for-3) singled in a run to slice Lamar's edge to 2-1.

Jones' three RBI-double increased her total to 28, brightening a day in which she hadn't reached base in seven previous at-bats.

"It was huge because I was beating myself up and not being within myself," Jones said. "But this isn't about me, it's just always huge to come through for this team.

"It makes me happy to see their faces happy when we come through. We all have to stay within ourselves and not let the game speed up on us, which is what we did all day (Friday)."

The seventh-inning scoring continued with a Hayley Barbazon RBI triple and a Kaitlyn St. Clair sacrifice fly RBI to push the Lady Demons edge to 6-2.

"We pressed a little too much early, but we started squaring the ball up, hitting in the gaps," Pickett said. "We were passing the bat and had consistent at-bats late."

NSU would need every one of those runs as Lamar made a seventh-inning charge of their own.

Lamar loaded the bases on two walks and a single, setting the table for a Taylor Murphy two-RBI single that shaved NSU's edge to 6-4.

That chased NSU starter Delafield, who kept NSU close by allowing two runs in the first six innings before Lamar struck for three runs in the seventh.

But reliever Bronte Rhoden picked up her first career save, shaking off a Victoria Garivey RBI single to cut NSU's advantage to 6-5 before recording the final two outs.

"(Delafield) pitched a hell of a game, and I knew I had to have her back," Rhoden said. "I knew my teammates had my back, and we got it done.
"That sense of urgency (in relief), you either get it done or you don't."

Delafield (7-2) got the win by scattering 10 hits and five walks as Lamar stranded 11 runners. She's recorded wins in five of her last seven appearances.

Lamar's Erin Kyle (8-6) takes the loss despite starting with six scoreless innings. She allowed five (four earned) of NSU's six runs in the seventh inning.

Lamar 4, NSU 3

Pitcher Samantha Guile and the Northwestern State defense shut down Lamar for the last six innings in the Friday opener, but the Cardinals' abundant first inning was enough in a 4-3 Lady Demons' loss.

Lamar manufactured four first-inning runs on just two hits and two free passes to take an early lead.

A leadoff error started an eight-batter inning in which Lamar loaded the bases on a bunt single and a hit-by-pitch.

Lamar's Kimberly Mattox drew an RBI-walk before Kelly Meeuwsen singled in a pair of runs for a 3-0 lead.

A Taylor Murphy ground out scored the final run in the inning for a 4-0 advantage.

Guile (8-9) held Lamar down for the remainder of the game, finishing with four runs allowed (two earned) on six hits. Guile walked four batters and hit another
two.

The junior had five wins in her last six appearances before Friday's start.

"I would have liked to see Guile start better, but we needed to make plays behind her, too," Pickett said. "Guile kept them off balance.

"But (Rhoden) coming in in the second game, that's why we have four pitchers, and it paid off tonight."

NSU scattered runners on the base paths for most of the game, but the Lady Demons pieced together a three-run sixth inning.

After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Codi Vernace placed a ball to right field that was ruled an error to score three unearned runs and slice Lamar's edge to 4-3. Kaitlyn St. Clair and Riley Cantrell walked with an E.C. Delafield single in between to load the bases.

But the Lady Demons couldn't scratch any more runs across on its four hits and four walks. Five of NSU's six stranded runners were left in scoring position.

Lamar pitcher Aaliyah Ruiz (4-4) recorded seven strikeouts in the complete-game win.