CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Northwestern State softball team saw one big inning go against them Saturday afternoon.
 
Given a chance to produce one of their own late in the game, the Lady Demons were unable to come up with a key hit, ultimately falling to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 5-1 in Southland Conference action at Chapman Field.
 
Northwestern State (24-15, 6-3) took a 1-0 lead in the third on Keely Dubois' sacrifice fly, but the lead was short-lived.
 
After two quiet innings offensively, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (14-22, 2-4) started the third inning with three consecutive singles, including Madison Garza's game-tying RBI single off starter Maggie Darr (8-3).
 
Bronte Rhoden relieved Darr and allowed both inherited runs to score ahead of Grace Gilbert's two-run single that capped the five-run frame. Mixed in between Garza's and Gilbert's run-scoring hits was a run-scoring error and an RBI groundout that gave the Islanders their largest lead of the weekend.
 
Islanders pitcher Denay Smith (4-6), who tossed a complete game, kept the Lady Demons at bay through the fourth and fifth innings before NSU mounted a sixth-inning rally.
 
Laney Roos, whose third-inning double helped set up NSU's first run, led off with a single before an error and a Makenzie Chaffin hit by pitch loaded bases with one out.
 
Smith, who scattered six hits and did not issue a walk, induced a 1-2-3 double play and a grounder to short to escape the threat and maintain the Islanders' advantage.
 
After escaping the third inning, Rhoden matched Smith pitch for pitch, tossing three more innings of scoreless relief, allowing NSU to stay within striking distance.
 
Roos finished 3-for-3, collecting half of NSU's six hits.
 
The Lady Demons return to action Tuesday when they head to Grambling for a 3 p.m. midweek matchup.