CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Northwestern State split its pair of games to open the Chattanooga Challenge on Friday, dropping a 5-0 decision to Tennessee Tech to start the day but responding with a 3-1 win against Chattanooga.
Two early miscues put the Lady Demons (5-2) behind after the first inning against Tennessee Tech, a deficit they could not overcome managing just three hits in the game. NSU turned the tables against Chattanooga, capitalizing on its miscues to score two of the three runs to support another solid performance in the circle.
"It was really good for them to come out and have more energy and fight in the second game today," head coach
Donald Pickett said. "Hopefully we learned something from the first game that's going to help up progress at the plate."
Tennessee Tech 5, NSU 0
The Golden Eagles took advantage of a couple of early miscues in the field to take the first-inning lead. After giving up a single to the first batter, starter
Bronte Rhoden nearly got the next three batters in a row, but an error kept the inning alive. With runners at second and third and two gone, a passed ball allowed the first run to score and bunt single brought in another three pitches later.
Rhoden retired the first two batters of the second inning, but two straight base hits and a walk loaded the bases. A base hit to left scored two more runs and chased Rhoden from the game.
Maggie Darr came in to get the final out, but NSU trailed 4-0 after an inning and a half.
The Lady Demons put together a quick response in the bottom of the inning getting the first two batter on and moved into scoring position with one out. The big hit that helped Tennessee Tech in the top of the inning did not come for the NSU in the bottom as the next two batter struck out to end the threat.
Darr held the Golden Eagles in check through the middle innings, retiring the first five batters she face and only allowing two base runners from the third through sixth innings.
The Lady Demons could not muster another scoring threat until the fifth when they attempted a two-out rally of their own. A
Maggie Black walk and a
Taylor Williams single up the middle put runners at the corners, but a strikeout ended the threat just as it did in the bottom of the second.
The strikeout was the first seven straight batters retired for NSU to end the game.
Tennessee Tech was finally able to get to Darr in the seventh to add an insurance run, playing more small ball with a pair of sacrifice bunts to move the runner around and in.
Darr threw the final 5.1 innings allowing one run on two hits with eight strikeouts.
NSU 3, Chattanooga 1
The Lady Demons let their first chance to take the lead against the Mocs slip by after an error at third loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the second. A strikeout and a fly ball caught in the left field foul territory left NSU wanting.
Despite not bringing in a run, NSU had some momentum that starting pitcher
Kenzie Seely kept in the dugout with the first of her three, one-two-three innings.
Keely DuBois delivered the first big hit of the day in NSU's next at bat with a two-out double to right center to bring
Laney Roos into score after she reached on a four-pitch walk.
The Mocs were able to break through with an answer in the bottom the inning after a leadoff double. With runners at the corners four batters later, a double steal worked to tie the game as the runner from third crossed the plate before the tag at second.
Nani Winger started the fourth with a walk and moved to second on a throwing error, setting the table to NSU to take the lead right back. Winger moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and came in to score on an RBI groundout by
Taylor Williams.
A
Kat Marshall double in the next inning added an insurance run to the scoreboard, bringing in Roos again after she reached on an error and moved to second on a wild pitch.
After each NSU run, Seely slammed the door in the next half inning by retiring the side in order. She pitched 5.0+ innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with eight strikeouts, picking up her second win of the season.
She was lifted in the bottom of the sixth following a leadoff walk for freshman
Sage Hoover who threw the final two innings to get her second save of the year.
DuBois and Marshall each with 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Williams had a base hit and RBI.
NSU continues play in the Chattanooga Challenge on Saturday starting with a 9 a.m. first pitch against Purdue-Fort Wayne and a 2 p.m. game against SIU-Edwardsville.
