Box Score CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee – The Northwestern State softball team had opportunities to form a couple of big innings against Indiana State on Sunday morning.
 
The Lady Demons were simply unable to find that crooked number in their final game in the Chattanooga Challenge, however, falling to the Sycamores, 2-1.
 
"Our pitchers did well, threw a solid game," head coach Donald Pickett said. "We had three opportunities with runners in scoring position and less than two outs where we were unable to get one run. We couldn't take advantage of the opportunities we had to push the runners across."
 
NSU (6-4) broke up a scoreless pitchers' duel with a single third-inning run despite a ball not leaving the infield.
 
Maggie Black drew a leadoff walk, and Taylor Williams followed with a bunt single. Bailie Ragsdale's single to the pitcher loaded the bases before Makenzie Chaffin delivered a run-scoring fielder's choice to shortstop.
 
Lyndsi Adamson (2-0) escaped further damage by getting a double play to stifle the threat.
 
Kenzie Seely (2-1) took the hard-luck loss after Indiana State (7-2) cashed in on its best scoring opportunity of the day, connecting on the key hit Northwestern State searched for throughout.
 
Isabelle Henning's one-out single started a two-run fourth inning for Indiana State. After Henning took second base on a sacrifice bunt and stole third base, Kennedy Shade drew a walk and took second on a wild pitch.
 
Danielle Henning then singled home both runners to give Indiana State a lead.
 
Seely threw four innings of one-run ball before Maggie Darr closed with two scoreless innings, keeping NSU within striking distance.
 
NSU was in position to answer Henning's go-ahead hit, putting runners on the corners with one out in the fifth before a line-drive double play ended the threat.
 
"Our pitching did really well all weekend and gave us chances to win all weekend," Pickett said. "Hopefully, we get the offense going a bit and can be more consistent. We're going to be a solid team."
 
Ragsdale went 3-for-3, including a double to lead off the game. Williams' bunt single in the third was NSU's only other hit off Adamson, who worked five innings of one-run ball before Lexi Benko picked up her first save with two scoreless innings.
 
Ragsdale's double was the lone extra-base hit in the game, and her three-hit game was the only multi-hit performance for either team.
 
Northwestern State returns to action Friday at 2 p.m. when they face Lipscomb in the first game of the Mardi Gras Mambo Tournament in Youngsville.