YOUNGSVILLE – Northwestern State didn't have trouble putting runners on the base paths Saturday, but driving them in proved to be a challenge in a 2-1 loss to Middle Tennessee.
The Lady Demons (6-5) stranded eight runners, three in scoring position, in their first loss of the Mardi Gras Mambo at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
NSU finishes the five-game weekend Sunday against Jacksonville State (10 a.m.) and Mississippi Valley State.
Down 2-0, the Lady Demons scratched the scoreboard in the fifth inning when junior E.C. Delafield beat out an infield single to score
Elise Vincent.
Vincent (2-3) was the only Lady Demon to record multiple hits, and she reached base in the fifth inning on a walk to go with her two singles.
But NSU missed other opportunities to score, particularly against starter Kailey Ahlstrom.
Junior
Cayla Jones tripled with one out in the first inning, but Ahlstrom (2-2) recorded two outs to strand Jones.
NSU pressured Ahlstrom in the third inning with a
Hayley Barbazon walk and a Vincent bunt single to start the frame, but Ahlstrom worked to strand runners on the corners with three outs.
Ahlstrom stranded one more runner in scoring position in the fourth inning after senior
Kaitlyn St. Clair singled and stole second base.
Ahlstrom allowed one run on four hits and four walks in five innings.
NSU couldn't affect reliever Mia Marinakis (first save of season) as much, putting one runner on in the sixth and seventh innings, but not reaching scoring position.
The Lady Demons had a solid collective pitching effort from starter
Bronte Rhoden and reliever
Samantha Guile.
Rhoden (2-2) scattered seven hits, most of them not on strong contact, allowing two runs while striking out four.
The Blue Raiders (6-9) took advantage of their best opportunity as Kelci Hill singled in two runs in the third inning. Keely McGee and Summer Burgess set the inning up with singles and were moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Guile pitched 2 2-3 hitless innings in relief, working around three walks. Two of those walks occurred on illegal pitches in which the result of the pitch was an out.
