NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State made its six hits count Friday as the Lady Demons took the first game from Central Arkansas in 2-1 fashion.
Four of NSU's six hits off UCA starter Kamryn Coleman were for extra bases, including a sixth-inning home run from junior Emma Hawthorne. NSU also hit three doubles.
Hawthorne's solo homer broke a 1-1 tie, which sophomore E.C. Delafield made that stand up with her sixth straight scoreless inning to secure the win.
"We got big hits when we needed them," said NSU coach Donald Pickett. "Cayla Jones led off with a big double (in the fourth inning), and E.C. got a big hit to bring her home.
"E.C. was great on the mound today in not giving up an earned run. We'll come motivated to play in (Saturday's doubleheader) to celebrate our seniors and to have a chance at the No. 5 seed (in the Southland Conference Tournament).
The Lady Demons will attempt to finish the series Saturday with a 5 p.m. doubleheader. Thunderstorms postponed Friday's second scheduled game.
NSU (27-24, 14-11 Southland Conference) assured itself of at least a No. 7 seed in the upcoming SLC Softball Tournament, which will start Tuesday in Natchitoches. With the loss, UCA (25-26, 11-14 SLC) is guaranteed to be the No. 8 seed.
The Lady Demons could stretch to a No. 5 seed if they sweep UCA, if Nicholls sweeps Southeastern (16-8 SLC) and if McNeese takes at least two from Lamar (14-10 SLC).
Hawthorne's two home runs this season have come in the last two weekends, each of which has given NSU a lead. She hit a two-run home run at Stephen F. Austin that handed NSU a one-run lead in an eventual loss.
Delafield (9-3) helped her cause at the plate as the only Lady Demon to record multiple hits with a 2-for-3 effort with an RBI.
Her RBI single in the fourth inning tied the game 1-1 when she brought home Cayla Jones, who led off with a double. Junior Kaitlyn St. Clair and freshman Maggie Black had NSU's other doubles.
In the circle, Delafield allowed just an unearned run in her seventh conference win of the season. The Stonewall native held UCA to five hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
UCA manufactured its run in the first inning off an error and a single.
After a leadoff error, Kaylyn Shepherd recorded the first of her three hits to put runners on the corners. Cylla Hill plated the Bears' lone run with a sacrifice fly RBI.
Delafield allowed just two other innings in which UCA put a runner in scoring position, and both of those came with two outs.
