Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 YOUNGSVILLE – Early run support and more light's out pitching led to a pair of wins for Northwestern State on the first day of the Mardi Gras Mambo Friday afternoon.

Kenzie Seely threw the Lady Demons' (8-4) fifth shutout already this season with a one-hit compete game effort in a 2-0 win against Lipscomb. A Keely DuBois grand slam in the bottom of the second against Eastern Illinois gave NSU the early lead which they held on to for a 7-5 win.
 
NSU 2, Lipscomb 0

The Lady Demons wasted no time getting on the board in against Lipscomb. Stepping into the leadoff spot for the first time this season, Taylor Williams started the game with a double and came around to score two batters later as Laney Roos traded places with her on a double of her own.

The Demons added another in the second on a Casey Irvin infield single bringing in Nani Winger to go ahead 2-0 early, but the single run to open the game proved to be plenty for starting pitcher Kenzie Seely.

"She really dominated the game," head coach Donald Pickett said of Seely's outing. "We got the lead early which was big and really took any pressure off. They never were able to square the ball up against her and the defense made plays behind her. She was just really sharp today and dominated the game."

Seely tossed the fifth shutout of the young season for the Lady Demons retiring the first eight batters in a row and allowing just one hit, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning. The defense behind Seely made play after play on soft grounders and easy fly balls.

"My screwball, curve and change up were working great for me today," Seely said. "I was able to work on the outside part of the plate because of how well everything was moving and the batters not being able to square up a ball.

"The defense was amazing today too. They worked hard every play. I am so proud of them and always have so much confidence that they have my back on and off the field."

NSU 7, Eastern Illinois 5

The Lady Demons got more early and this time big run support in the second game of the day. After three straight walks to open the inning, Keely DuBois brought everyone home with one swing to dead center. It was the first home run of the season for the NSU short stop and the second grand slam in as many weeks for the Lady Demons.

"It was big to be able to jump out and put a crooked number on the board in an inning," Pickett said. "We've scored the majority of our runs one at a time in innings and not been able to get those crooked numbers yet. Keely came up with a big swing there early to drive in those runs and we need her to do that. She stepped up in a big spot and really opened the game up."

The early lead and reigning Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week Maggie Darr in the circle gave the Lady Demons a lot of security through the first five innings.

NSU added to its lead in the fifth on an error at third by the Cougars and a Makenzie Chaffin RBI single to left, both coming with two outs to make it a 6-0 game.

EIU was able to mount a comeback in the late innings after three straight hits and four of the first five batters reached base to start the sixth. A fifth base hit of the inning made it a 6-4 game before a ground ball to third finally ended the frame.

Sage Hoover came in out of the bullpen to get the final two outs of the inning, shutting the door on a potentially larger rally and closing out the game to pick up her NCAA-leading third save of the season.

"Sage came in and did a really good job," Pickett said. "We left some plays out there behind that we didn't make, and she still was able to get out of the jam. Taylor made a great play at the end for the last out and got us the win.

"Really proud of them for coming in and doing what she needed to do to help us win. We need to sure up some things on defense and do a little better job behind the pitchers, but we found a way to win."

Williams finished the day just as she started it with an double to get a run back in the bottom of the sixth, then made a diving grab at second for the final out in the seventh to secure the victory.

The Lady Demons continue play in the Mardi Gras Mambo beginning at 3 p.m., against No. 2 Alabama and close Saturday's festivities against St. Thomas at 5 p.m.